The WLGA has launched a report ‘Taking Forward the Essex Review on Affordable Housing’ to look at the progress of local authorities in implementing the recommendations made by the Essex Review in 2008.
Cllr. Aled Roberts, WLGA spokesperson for Environment, Sustainability and Housing said:
“In 2008, The Essex Review made important recommendations for local government in its role as the local strategic housing leader. It is within this context that the WLGA commissioned a study to look at the implementation of these recommendations almost two years on.”
“The report draws a number of useful conclusions and in particular, highlights the partnership approach as a successful feature of the work so far to implement the original Essex Review recommendations. As part of its concluding recommendations the report proposes that an Improvement Programme for housing be agreed between the WLGA and the Welsh Assembly Government which would continue the emphasis on taking a partnership approach.”
“Taking forward the priorities identified by the report will of course pose challenges for local authorities and the Welsh Assembly Government. But among the priorities are increasing collaboration, sharing experience and practice and overcoming a number of practical barriers identified as impeding progress on the ground which will ultimately mean local authorities are more successful in taking forward the recommendations of Essex Review.”
The report, as well as ensuring the continued delivery of affordable housing, and improvements in existing housing stock also highlights the need to focus on the private rented sector and older peoples housing – both of which have been identified by authorities as being very significant issues across Wales.
The Essex Review on Affordable Housing
In October 2007 the Deputy Minister for Housing established a Review Group headed by Sue Essex to look at the issues around the delivery of affordable housing in Wales and particularly the target of providing an additional 6500 affordable homes by 2011.
The Report makes clear that to deliver the key housing commitments in the One Wales document and specifically to deliver an additional 6500 homes by 2011, wide-ranging and urgent changes needed to be made to the way that the provision of affordable housing is regulated, funded, assessed and delivered in Wales. It makes forty-three recommendations, many of which are underpinned by the need to work in partnership with all the housing stakeholders in Wales, in line with the Beecham model.
