Welsh Government on course to provide 7,500 affordable homes

Affordable Housing statistics published today have revealed that the Welsh Labour Government is on target to meet its ambitious manifesto target of providing 7,500 additional affordable homes during this term of government.

An additional 2,489 homes, almost a third of the Welsh Labour Government’s target, were delivered during the 2011 – 12 financial year. 62% of the homes were funded with capital grants from the Welsh Government and Welsh Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) made the largest contribution to additional affordable housing in Wales. 426 of the affordable homes were delivered on land made available by the public sector, around two thirds of which was on land made available by local authorities.

The Welsh Labour Government’s Housing White Paper, published earlier this year set out a bold legislative and non-legislative programme and a wide ranging set of proposals. It will result in more homes, improvements to existing homes, better housing and housing-related services. It also sets out several innovative ways of funding affordable housing, such as the Welsh Housing Partnership which attracts private finance, co-operative housing and social enterprise models.

An additional target of bringing 5,000 empty homes back into use through the £10m “Houses into Homes” scheme has also been set.