Scotland’s housing system faces interconnected challenges relating to affordability, supply, energy efficiency, homelessness, infrastructure, and housing quality. In response, the Scottish Government has proposed establishing More Homes Scotland, a new national housing agency to support a more strategic and coordinated approach to housing delivery. 

To date, debate around the agency has largely focused on its remit, powers, and delivery role. Less attention has been paid to how its work will be independently evaluated, monitored, and refined over time. 

This paper argues that if More Homes Scotland is to fulfil its remit, its work must be effectively evaluated. Drawing on lessons from Canada, it explores whether Scotland could benefit from establishing an independent policy learning and evaluation function to operate alongside More Homes Scotland.

As the Canadian experience highlights, consideration must be given not only to what housing agencies deliver, but also to how their work will be independently assessed, understood, and improved over time. 

In the face of Scotland’s housing emergency and ongoing budget constraints, we simply don’t have time or money to waste.

More Homes Scotland will need to ask, ‘What will we do to address Scotland’s housing challenges?’ A housing policy learning and evaluation function, modelled in part on the lessons of Canada's National Housing Council, could help answer the equally important question: ‘How will we know if it is working?’

A full copy of the report can be downloaded below.