Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government
The delivery of more homes is, and must remain, inextricably linked to our ambition to end homelessness in Wales. We cannot realise this ambition without a sufficient supply of suitable homes that people can afford to live well in, complemented by early intervention, prevention and support systems.
Over the summer, I wrote to local authorities and registered social landlords with a challenge to do everything within our collective power to deliver every additional home possible. I extend my gratitude to sector colleagues for their unwavering support and commitment to work together to meet these challenges, both through prevention and the delivery of more homes.
In my Oral Statement on 1 October, I stated that I was reviewing options to establish an Affordable Homes Task Force to support our work. I have now given this my full consideration, and I believe that a focus on practical support and action in unlocking and advancing affordable housing developments is key. To this end, I am pleased that my colleague Lee Waters, MS has agreed to take on this challenge.
Our engagement with sector partners provides valuable feedback on the challenges and potential blockages they face in delivering some schemes by the end of this Senedd term. We have taken action to respond to the challenges, but it is right that we must continue to challenge ourselves to explore what more can be done to aid the delivery of more affordable homes in Wales.
Lee Waters, MS’s work will consist of two interlinked workstreams. The immediate focus will be on short-term actions to expedite delivery of homes in our current build programme. Building upon the success of our Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme the workstream will also explore opportunities for using sites in public ownership on a meanwhile basis utilising modern methods of construction to deliver homes in this term of Government.
Strand two will have a longer term focus. Informed by issues identified when addressing the short-term challenges, the Delivery Group will make recommendations for practical system change to streamline the delivery of more homes for social rent. Lee Waters, MS, will take an agile approach to the work supported by a small core group of sector specialists and drawing on wider expertise as necessary.
I look forward to seeing the progress of this important work and to receiving the insights and outcomes that will help us drive the delivery of much needed affordable homes.