Workers who have completed a plumber training course could find increased work opportunities in Scotland after trials of a scheme aimed at boosting the supply of affordable housing in the country were announced.

Housing and communities minister Alex Neil revealed that trials were set to get underway at the end of the month on an initiative that would see the Scottish government taking joint equity stakes in unsold or partially-built property with housing developers.

Through this Supply Shared Equity Scheme, people with low incomes would be offered the chance to save up to 40 per cent on the price of these houses, with the rest being paid by the government and companies.

Mr Neil commented: "This trial scheme, if successful, could double the number of affordable homes we can support from the public funds available for this type of shared equity housing."

With many more partially-built houses needing to be completed for the project, plumbers could soon find themselves in demand in Scotland.

The Homes and Communities Agency today (November 24th) announced that it is currently on course to achieve its yearly housing targets after completing 20,177 new homes between April and September.

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