In the wake of this week’s Ministerial Statement by Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan, unveiling the Housing Emergency Action Plan—a comprehensive response to Scotland’s deepening housing crisis – and the Scottish Parliament debate which followed, embracing innovation is seen by many commentators as the key to unlocking the country’s housing slowdown.

Recent reports have highlighted the need for different thinking and solutions such as modular construction, circular manufacturing, and innovative offsite housing models. 

Industrialised construction methods have the capability to supercharge new housing, also creating manufacturing opportunities and jobs.

Innovation in build systems—particularly industrialised construction methods such as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and modular/offsite building—is increasingly recognised as a strategic enabler within the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, and is embedded across all three pillars of its strategy.

VASO by Eco is ideally placed to support the Housing Emergency Action Plan by offering a solution to the housebuilding shortage across Scotland with its innovative recycled glass product.

Aligning with national strategies like Housing to 2040, VASO recognises the need for collaborative action to address housing pressures.

Eddie Black, Eco Group Managing Director, hopes the Government announcement will pave the way for many more schemes which embrace innovation.

Eddie said: “The urgency of the situation is clear for all to see. We would urge the Scottish Government to embrace homegrown innovation which can significantly speed up the solutions, and rapidly deliver affordable and sustainable housing. 

“VASO By Eco’s speed and efficiency can provide a systematic solution to the housing shortage. It will allow Scotland to be at the forefront of a building solution which will help solve the housing crisis here and in other places around the world.

“With VASO by Eco we have a solution which is going to prove a complete game-changer for the Scottish, UK, and worldwide construction industry.

 “VASO’s modular build system can erect a four-bedroom house super structure in just four days, with panels manufactured in under four hours. This rapid deployment capability directly supports the strategy’s priority to increase housing supply to meet urgent demand and economic growth targets.

“VASO panels are made from recycled glass and offer superior thermal performance, fire resistance, and durability. They are backed by a 60-year Lloyds of London warranty. This supports plan’s ambitions to achieve affordable warmth, energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty.”

McAllan’s statement outlined a three-pillar strategy:

1. Ending Children Living in Unsuitable Accommodation

• £80 million investment this year (doubling the previous fund) to acquire homes and move 600–800 children out of temporary housing;
• Councils are expected to “flip” good-quality temporary accommodation into permanent homes for families;
• Awaab’s Law to be implemented from March 2026, targeting damp and mould in rented homes.

VASO support these ambitions with:

• Speed of deployment means VASO homes can help councils quickly rehouse families from temporary or unsuitable accommodation;
• Durability and energy efficiency ensure these homes are not just fast, but fit for long-term family living, supporting child wellbeing and stability.

  2. Supporting Vulnerable Communities

• £1 million “Fund to Leave” to help 1,200 women and children escape domestic abuse;
• £4 million to expand Housing First tenancies for people with complex needs;
• Extension of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans funding to 2026–27;
• £2 million in discretionary housing payments to help households in temporary accommodation transition to private rentals.

VASO supports these ambitions with:

• Low energy costs and high thermal performance reduce fuel poverty risks for vulnerable households;
• Minimal skilled labour requirements make it easier to deploy homes in rural or workforce-constrained areas, including for Housing First or domestic abuse survivors.

3. Boosting Growth and Investment in Housing

A commitment to increase housing delivery by 10% annually across all tenures for the first three years of the next Parliament;

Exemptions from rent controls for mid-market rent and build-to-rent properties to encourage investment;

• 
  Plans to unlock land for housing in rural areas and support developments like the 10,000 homes at Blindwells New Town;
• Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are seen as essential to accelerating housing delivery, especially to meet the target of increasing housing output by 10% annually across all tenures;
• The Scottish Government has committed to supporting MMC through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, with around 90% of new homes already using some form of MMC (e.g., timber frame, modular, panelised systems);
• Cost efficiencies of up to 8% have been identified when using standardised designs and larger developments (40–50 units), making industrialised construction attractive for scaling;
• Local authorities are encouraged to include MMC in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs), with emphasis on mass customisation, collaborative procurement, and design standardisation;
• The government is running pilot MMC initiatives in Edinburgh and South East Scotland, combining R&D with procurement and design innovation. Private sector organisations like Ardbeg Modular are advocating modular construction as a scalable, cost-effective solution to meet the 110,000 affordable homes target by 2032.

VASO supports these ambitions with:

• Rapid, scalable housing delivery: Homes are manufactured offsite in hours and assembled onsite in days, significantly accelerating build timelines;
• Industrialised construction: The system uses precision-engineered composite panels made from recycled glass, aligning with the government's push for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC);
• Investment-ready innovation: Recognised in the Housing Supply for a Growing Economy report, VASO is seen as a model for attracting both public and private investment into housing innovation.

VASO also offers additional strategic benefits including:

• Circular economy leadership: VASO homes are made from recycled glass, supporting Scotland’s net zero and sustainability goals.
• Skills and jobs: The system supports green job creation, apprenticeships, and reskilling—especially important in regions like VASO by Eco’s home region of Dumfries & Galloway.
• Export potential: With international interest (such as a forthcoming trade mission to Barbados), VASO could position Scotland as a global leader in sustainable housing innovation.

In terms of financial commitment, The Scottish Government pledged £4.9 billion over four years to deliver 36,000 affordable homes by 2029–30, aiming to house up to 24,000 children. This includes both public and private investment, with further details expected in the upcoming Scottish Budget.

Prosper’s recent “Housing Supply For A Growing Economy” report highlighted the need to accelerate the adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and invest in offsite manufacturing and innovation. 

Garry Legg, Head of Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, at South of Scotland Enterprise, earlier this year said: “There is a unanimous consensus that we must do things differently to address the housing challenge, with partners in the South of Scotland already coming together to take the action they know is required. 

“The South of Scotland is up for, and ideally placed to be, Scotland’s testbed for doing housing differently.”

VASO by Eco has been developed by Eco Group at its base in Annan in Dumfries and Galloway.

As a partnership, VASO by Eco, Nith Valley Leaf Trust (NVLT), South of Scotland Community Housing, and South of Scotland Enterprise recently commissioned a feasibility report for development of a brownfield site in Dumfries and Galloway with construction utilising the VASO by Eco system. 

The VASO Build solution would represent a 20-week timesaving compared with traditional construction.