WIREDGOV

Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister, Lesley Griffiths, has welcomed new figures which show the Welsh Government is on course to meet its ambitious target of providing 10,000 additional affordable homes by May 2016.

The statistics released yesterday show 2,416 affordable homes were delivered during 2013-14, which is an 18 per cent rise on the previous year and brings the total number of additional affordable homes provided so far during this Assembly term to 6,890.

To mark the release of the statistics, the Minister will visit Cwrt Y Bragdy affordable housing development in Cardiff later yesterday, which was completed in August after receiving over £1.3 million of funding support from the Welsh Government.

The Minister will take a tour of the housing development, which is made up of 26 homes and will meet with residents who have recently moved in.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Minister said:

"I am delighted we are 69% of the way towards meeting our ambitious affordable homes target with two more years of delivery to go. This is incredibly encouraging.

"With the UK Government cuts and welfare reform hitting the people of Wales hard, it is imperative we continue to work hard and to provide more good quality, safe and affordable homes.

"These latest statistics are a clear signal of our continued commitment to housing and of the excellent progress made to date.

"Despite our progress, we will not rest on our laurels. We will continue to use innovative ways to fulfil our affordable housing needs."

The Welsh Government is piloting a number of loan schemes to support housing delivery and are reviewing how to make the most of the Social Housing Grant. The Housing Finance Grant has also been expanded, with the Welsh Government tripling its initial investment to provide an estimated 2,000 extra homes and create 5,000 Welsh jobs.

In the recent Draft Budget for 2015-16, the Welsh Government also announced £10 million for the Affordable Housing Land programme, a new pilot scheme which will increase the supply of affordable housing in Wales by boosting the funding options available to local authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to acquire land for housing developments.

yesterday’s figures also show a significant increase in the number of additional affordable homes on public sector land rising to its highest recorded level during 2013-14, with 757 homes being delivered.

The Minister added:

"A key part of reason why we are on course to meet our target is because of the work of our housing associations. I would like to thank them for their commitment and innovative approaches to delivering the affordable homes much needed across the country."

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