- 19/05/2015
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
MIKE HEDGES WELCOMES ANNOUNCMENT THAT WELSH LABOUR GOVERNMENT TO INVEST £108M IN SOCIAL HOUSING
A major £108 million investment in Wales’ social housing stock has been announced by Welsh Labour’s Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister, Lesley Griffiths.
Mike Hedges said… ‘I welcome this investment in social housing. It will assist Swansea Council in meetings the WQHS targets. There are many thousands of Council tenants in Swansea East who will benefit from improvements to their houses as a result of this money. It will be a very positive outcome for these tenants when all social housing in Swansea meet WQHS, and this money brings this closer.’
The funding from the Welsh Labour Government will be used by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords to improve people’s homes and ensure they are safe, secure and meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).
Figures show that the quality of social housing in Wales continues to rise, with 67% of all social housing (149,755 homes) meeting the quality standard set by the Welsh Labour Government. This is an increase of 7 percentage points on the previous year.
As well as improving social housing, the capital grant creates jobs and training opportunities across Wales. Social landlords have procured £112 million worth of housing contracts, 82% of which have been re-invested in Wales. £38 million has gone directly on salaries for people in Wales and £53 million has been spent on goods and services from Wales-based businesses.
The announcement further demonstrates the Welsh Labour Government’s focus on protecting and improving Wales’ social housing stock. Earlier this year, the Minister announced her intention to end Right to Buy in Wales, subject to a consultation which recently concluded.
Taking steps to end Right to Buy will put a stop to further depletion of Wales’ housing stock, which has suffered from a 45% reduction in properties available since the policy was introduced.
Ends.
