Welsh Government
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Affordable Housing statistics reveal Welsh Government is on course to meet 7,500 target

New affordable housing statistics have revealed that the Welsh Government is on target to meet its ambitious target of providing 7,500 additional affordable homes during this term of government.

2,489 additional homes, almost a third of the 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.

Welcoming the news, Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis said:

"This is excellent news. The statistics represent a very strong start towards an ambitious target and clearly demonstrates the commitment we have made to increase the amount of affordable housing available to people who need it. It also demonstrates the co-operation and excellent work from Housing Associations who have provided the majority of new affordable homes and local authorities who also played their part, particularly by providing land for new-build homes.

"However, we know that demand for affordable housing continues to grow and we need to deliver even more homes in future. With tightening budgets, this will prove quite a challenge but we are developing new ways in which we can attract other investment and I look forward to working with local authorities, housing associations and others in the housing sector to keep up the good work we have carried out to date and deliver more homes to help families in Wales."

The 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 such as the one set up by the Welsh Government and the Principality Building Society to develop the Ely Bridge site in Cardiff.

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

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