At what is a critical time for the sector and Scotland generally, that was the key message from both the organisation’s incoming chief executive Jane Wood and cabinet secretary for social justice, housing & local government Shona Robison MSP, who was also present at the event attended by 1000 senior industry figures.

In her first opportunity to speak directly to HFS members, Ms Wood stressed the need for developers of all sizes to be able to operate effectively to meet the country’s housing needs.

The cabinet secretary acknowledged the challenging and complex landscape currently facing the sector, saying: “The Scottish Government cannot deliver the ambitions of its ‘Housing to 2040’ vision alone. We need commitment and collaboration across all our partners, local government and housing stakeholders.

“The willingness of HFS to continue to engage, to innovate, to work together and bring fresh thinking to the table is to be commended. I look forward to working closely with Jane and HFS members to achieve our shared goal of delivering more homes for Scotland.”

Reflecting on the day, Ms Wood said: “Housing is about so much more than bricks and mortar. With over £30,000 in developer contributions derived from each new private home built for vital infrastructure such as schools, healthcare, transport and affordable housing, the wider societal benefits are crucial to Scotland’s success.

“Given the inextricable links across tenures, the Cabinet Secretary’s recognition of present challenges and the need to work in partnership was very welcome.

“HFS and its members are absolutely committed to working together to ensure the best outcomes for our country. My top priority is to progress our positive dialogue to achieve this.”