Officers have said the funds could come from the planning and development service budget through projected underspends elsewhere in the budget.

BBC: Funding sought for Scotland's Housing Expo

Underspends in other Whitehall departments are to be used to pay for the rest of the cost of building the new homes, which was a key part of a raft of new policies announced on Monday, seen as an attempt to relaunch the government.

BBC: Local homes pledge 'is unlawful'