WIREDGOV

The Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant was in Haverfordwest to see how the Welsh Government’s Housing Finance Grant is helping to fund affordable housing there.

The 12 affordable homes proposed for the site are the first to be developed utilising the innovative grant, and sees the Welsh Government, Pembrokeshire Housing Associations and investment company M & G Investments work in partnership in order to identify, fund and support the building of affordable housing.

Speaking at the visit, the Minister said:

"Having launched this scheme only last September, I’m delighted to see the impact it’s already having on delivering much needed affordable housing to the people of Wales.

"It’s vital that the private and public sectors are supported in building new homes so that we can continue to work towards, and indeed exceed our target of providing 7,500 affordable homes during the term of this Welsh Government.

"This scheme is an excellent example of what the grant can achieve. It’s particularly pleasing that the local community, through the Rural Housing Enabler, have been involved in the decision making from the outset and that the contractor, a local Pembrokeshire firm, will be employing a number of local apprentices as the building work progresses."

The development includes six 2 bedroom semi detached houses, four 3 bedroom semi detached houses and two 2 bedroom semi-detached bungalows with a contract value of £1.25 million. The equivalent Welsh Government capital investment in this scheme is just over £414,000.

The Minister also visited Ty Solar in Cilgerran, a prototype two storey detached three bedroom house which has been designed to minimise energy usage and meet the needs of the affordable housing sector.