00:00We know that investing in social housing reduces poverty, improves health and help drives economic
00:19growth.
00:20Good, quality, affordable housing can provide opportunities for every individual and family,
00:27positively impacting upon health, mental health and education outcomes.
00:33Our ambition to end homelessness in Wales cannot be achieved unless we have sufficient
00:38supply of suitable homes that people can afford to live well in, alongside early intervention,
00:45prevention and support service systems.
00:48The evidence that we need more affordable homes is clear.
00:52In the shocking numbers of people living in temporary accommodation and in local authorities'
00:57local housing market assessments, one person sleeping rough or one family without a place
01:05to call home is one too many.
01:09That is why the Prif Weinidog has set the delivery of our more homes target as one of
01:14her key priorities, giving families the opportunity to live fulfilled lives.
01:20At the start of this Senate term, we set a challenging and stretching target to deliver
01:2520,000 additional homes for rent in the social sector.
01:29In support of this commitment, we have allocated record levels of funding to housing supply
01:35in this Senate term, with over £1.4 billion invested so far.
01:41Our investment is paying off, the sector is responding positively and social home delivery
01:48rates are increasing to some of the highest ever recorded.
01:52The first two years of official data show we delivered 5,775 homes towards the target.
02:002023-24 data is expected in November.
02:05This, in spite of challenging global events, driving up inflation and costs, negatively
02:12impacting on our supply chains and workforce.
02:16We have responded to these challenges, supporting our home builders over cost increases, introducing
02:22additional funding and flexibility through the transitional accommodation capital programme
02:29and rolling out Leasing Scheme Wales.
02:33Whilst I commend the work of the sector to ramp up their building programme, it is right
02:38that we are being challenged to do more, deliver faster.
02:43Delivery partners tell us that there is strong pipeline of homes in their programmes for
02:46this term of government and I remain committed to using every means possible to deliver much
02:53needed homes for the people of Wales, both in the short term and long term.
02:59We know that some risks remain which impact development timescales and we are working
03:04with the sector to address the delivery risks for schemes facing delays or blockages where
03:09possible.
03:11Over the summer, I wrote to local authorities and RSLs setting out my clear ambition to
03:17do everything within our collective power to deliver every additional home we can and
03:24asking them to set out what more they can do to help achieve much needed homes.
03:31My letter asks RSLs and local authorities to prioritise efforts and resources on schemes
03:38which deliver the most significant levels of social housing, explore how best all funding
03:43streams are utilised to deliver more homes and to maximise opportunities through acquisitions.
03:52My officials are now analysing the responses to inform our work with landlords, political
03:57leaders and across government to help unlock schemes, support and monitor delivery.
04:04To support this, I am finalising arrangements for our Affordable Homes Taskforce.
04:10The taskforce will explore how Welsh Government can help with the delivery of affordable homes
04:16through planning processes, land supply and encouraging close working with manufacturers
04:22of modular housing.
04:25Full details of the taskforce remit and its membership will be published shortly.
04:31New build support by our social housing grant remains a central plank of our delivery programme
04:38but by no means the only way we are increasing affordable homes in Wales.
04:44We have opened the TACP for the 2024-25 financial year with indicative value of £100 million.
04:53The response has been overwhelming and the scheme has a strong pipeline of creative schemes
04:59to deliver more homes at pace for people who are currently living in temporary accommodation.
05:06While TACP takes a pragmatic and flexible approach, I want to assure colleagues that
05:13it remains a keen focus on standards, rightly striking the balance between meeting needs
05:20and investing public money wisely in homes that support their wellbeing.
05:26Housing Scheme Wales continues to grow with 19 local authorities participating and 243
05:33homes already signed up.
05:36The scheme supports local authorities to lease private sector properties, bringing them into
05:41social landlord management for up to 20 years, providing a range of quality homes and landlord
05:47support for individuals and households who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk
05:53of homelessness.
05:56We are delivering homes on our own land, leading by example on standards, placemaking and affordability,
06:04for example at Cosmaston where 50% of the homes built will be affordable.
06:10We're also taking opportunities to work with partners on alternative delivery models for
06:16affordable homes, for example working with Tyrion Homes and RSL Partners at Ely Mill,
06:22Whiteheads and Parc Aenon.
06:25We're also mindful of the need to plan for long-term delivery, extending our role in
06:30securing and bringing forward land for more affordable housing in Wales, as well as supporting
06:36the use of small pockets of land within existing communities for additional homes.
06:43We know that long-term financial stability is important for our delivery partners in
06:48planning and expanding their development programmes.
06:51I have tasked my officials with exploring a long-term investment commitment for social
06:56housing in Wales, as well as fundamentally reviewing the way we set rent in Wales to
07:01give long-term stability for landlords balanced with affordability for tenants.
07:08Delivering on this important agenda will require close working with Cabinet colleagues across
07:14all portfolios to remove barriers to delivery.
07:18This will include action to bring forward planning fees, ensuring local planning authorities
07:24are resourced efficiently, working with the construction sector to improve and streamline
07:28procurement processes, and ensuring that we have the pipeline of skilled workforce that
07:35the construction sector will need to build the homes of the future.
07:41Of course, Julie James will have a crucial role in her new role as Minister for Delivery,
07:47and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank her for the amount she achieved in her
07:51time as Minister responsible for housing.
07:55I think Members here in the Senedd would all agree that focusing on delivering more affordable
08:00homes, with a firm focus on social rent and ending homelessness, are the right priorities.
08:08I welcome the Prif Weinidog's decision to make this one of her key priorities, to ensure
08:13opportunities for every family.
08:15Mark Isherwood.
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