The Welsh Assembly Government has already exceeded its target of delivering 6,500 new affordable homes during the term of this government, one year ahead of schedule, according to official statistics released today.
2,472 additional affordable homes were provided between April 2009 and March 2010, making a total of 6,707 in just the first three years of the term of this government, exceeding the target of 6,500 new homes by March 2011 set out in the One Wales document.
Today the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Jocelyn Davies AM met some of the families to benefit from homes built with Social Housing Grant when she and Nick Bennett, Chief Executive of Community Housing Cymru (CHC) helped them move into their new homes at the site of the former Ninian Park in Cardiff, which are managed by Taff Housing Association. CHC represents Housing Associations in Wales who have been responsible for 8 of every 10 homes provided over the last three years, which were part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Social Housing Grant Fund and the Strategic Capital Investment Fund.
The Deputy Minister said:
“I am delighted to announce that we have not only met, but exceeded our target of creating 6,500 additional affordable homes in this Assembly term. This is a particularly impressive achievement given the current economic conditions.
“We could not have achieved this without the co-operation and excellent work from Housing Associations who have provided the vast majority of new affordable homes and local authorities who also played their part.
“However we know that demand for affordable housing continues to grow and we need to deliver even more homes in future. With tightening budgets, this will prove quite a challenge but we are developing new ways in which we can attract other investment and I look forward to working with local authorities, housing associations and others in the housing sector to keep up the good work we have carried out to date and deliver more homes to help families in Wales.”
Nick Bennett, Chief Executive of Community Housing Cymru said:
“I am delighted that Housing Associations in Wales have delivered almost 6,000 homes over the past three years, contributing eight out of ten of the homes that have achieved the One Wales target. Our production rate has increased year on year. This is due to increased government support, better regulation and a greater use of Registered Social Landlords’ own resources. We remain committed to ensuring that we are as innovative as possible over coming years so that the number of new homes doesn’t fall in line with reductions in Social Housing Grant.”
