Welsh Government
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Minister Takes Action to Deliver More Homes
The Minister told Assembly Members yesterday that his top priority is to increase the supply of much needed homes – both affordable homes and market homes.
Carl Sargeant said,
“We must address the acute shortage of homes in Wales but I know there is no magic bullet to solving this problem. It needs concerted action across Government and from all organisations involved in building new homes in Wales.
“The £170m Help to Buy Wales initiative I launched at the start of the year is reaping rewards. The scheme will support the construction of 5,000 new homes across Wales over the next two years and builders are already saying that it has restored confidence in the construction industry.
“We’re also making good progress against our targets of delivering 7,500 more affordable homes and bringing 5,000 empty private sector dwellings back into use but I am determined to do more.
“To facilitate the building of more good quality homes, I am appointing a Housing Supply Adviser to work with home builders, owners of land, local authorities and housing associations. I will now begin discussing with interested parties the precise terms of reference and scope of this role.
“I am also setting a revised target of 10,000 new affordable homes during this term of Government and to support delivery against this increased target I am putting in place a delivery pact with Community Housing Cymru (CHC). The pact will clearly set out commitments from both the Welsh Government and CHC.”
Nick Bennett, Chief Executive of CHC said,
"We warmly welcome the new pact approach and believe it reflects genuine partnership working. Welsh Government set so many of our external environment factors including regulation, rent policy, and capital investment levels. Housing associations will continue to deliver but the more security for planning the Welsh Government can give us, the more we can do."
The Minister concluded,
“I am also committed to working with developers, housing associations, local authorities and financiers to find innovative ways of moving forward.
“To get this work underway I recently approved a number of innovative pilot projects and will be looking to extend these to make best use of land and finance. I have also secured £5m to fund a pilot Town Centre Property Fund which will focus on regenerating town centres and increasing housing supply.
“On the planning front, via the draft Planning Bill and a review of key policies, I am changing the culture so that planning is seen as enabling good quality development in the right locations. I am also simplifying permitted development rights and the building regulations governing emission standards for new buildings.
“It is clear that addressing the shortage of homes in Wales requires concerted and sustained action but working together we can deliver better homes across Wales.”
