Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government
The Welsh Government controls in excess of 600 land and property assets, held for purposes ranging from our operational offices, economic support for businesses, cultural and heritage buildings, and land for future employment and social housing. A strategic approach to managing our property portfolio enables us to support delivery of our ambitious Programme for Government.
Our second Corporate Asset Management Policy and Strategy, which I am publishing today, sets out what we want to achieve from our investment in land and property. Our assets have considerable potential for providing benefit to the people of Wales. We also need to seize this opportunity to use our property assets to support global action to address issues including the climate and nature emergency.
The combined impact of austerity, COVID-19 and the climate and nature emergency means that we need to find new ways to innovate and collaborate. We must work together across Government and the public sector to ensure that we use our assets to make a positive contribution to prosperous and a low carbon sustainable future.
Our actions have the ability to support local economies by prioritising the health and vibrancy of our cities, towns and villages, providing affordable homes and secure jobs. This is a huge challenge, but one which provides an opportunity for Welsh Government to lead by example, to influence the wider public and private sectors, and to use our valuable asset base to deliver public value.