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Plans to build tens of thousands more affordable homes in Scotland over the next five years could support 14,000 jobs and provide an economic boost totalling £9 billion, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed.

The SNP leader said if her party is re-elected as the Scottish Government in May, it will have the target of building at least 50,000 affordable homes over the course of the next parliament.

These would include 35,000 new housing association or council properties, she added.

Ms Sturgeon made the comments as she campaigned in Glasgow at the University Cafe on Byres Road in the city’s west end.

The SNP leader, who used to visit the cafe when she was a law student at nearby Glasgow University, took a turn behind the counter.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government had “built more than 30,000 homes over the course of this parliament” and would raise that to 50,000 over the next, including 35,000 homes for social rent.

She said the housebuilding plans would support 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs per year and generate £1.8 billion a year of economic activity – or £9 billion over the course of the parliament.

“As well as providing homes for people to live in, it’s also providing a huge boost to the economy as well,” she said.

“In contrast, opposition promises on housing are simply empty pledges when they come from a Labour Party that found itself in the ludicrous position of having built only six new council houses throughout its last term in office and a Tory party obsessed with austerity and taking real investment out of the economy.”