The 2022 census data published in September shows that the Edinburgh population grew by 7.6% between 2011 and 2022, we now have 264,000 females and 248,700 males in the city. This growth is testament to the quality of life in Edinburgh, and the strength of the local economy.

It’s a shame, however, that the Scottish Government funding for Edinburgh has not kept pace. A growing city is welcome, but we need additional funding for schools, GPs, roads, etc. Indeed, the census show that housing building is lagging population growth. The result is higher rents, bigger mortgages and homelessness. Sadly, this is being repeated across Scotland – particularly where affordable homes are concerned.

In 2022-23, 3,303 households were assessed as homeless in Edinburgh, and there are now 24,500 households currently on the waiting list for an affordable home. On average, each one advertised gets 196 applications.

On the very day in February that his Scottish Government set the budget in Holyrood, Shelter Scotland was protesting outside because the social housing budget was being “slashed”.  This came just a few days after Shelter Scotland said the Scottish Government were choosing “to deprioritise social housing in their spending plans by disproportionately slashing that budget”.

In August Shelter Scotland intervened again when data was published showing that homelessness was rising across Scotland taking the total number of homeless children to 16,263. Shelter Scotland were again clear on their position by saying the situation was “utterly shameful” and that “there is no mystery surrounding the solution to this emergency, no need for more summits or round tables to puzzle out an answer”. They told the Scottish  Government “we need more social housing, and we need it now”.

I hope Edinburgh continues to thrive in the coming decade, but the Scottish Government must ensure that the taxes and business rates collected here are used to tackle the lack of affordable housing.