Have your say on housing needs in Wales

7 October 2011

The National Assembly for Wales’s Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee has launched a consultation on housing needs in Wales and is calling for evidence to inform its inquiry.

The Committee will look at the provision of affordable housing in Wales and examine the effectiveness of public subsidy like the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant – through which Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are funded.

It is also interested in whether alternatives to public subsidy are being fully exploited at a time when public funding is being squeezed.

The level of collaborative working between local authorities, Registered Social Landlords, financial institutions and homebuilders to provide affordable housing are other issues the Commitee will consider.

Committee Chair, Ann Jones AM, said: “We know that the provision of affordable housing is an important policy area for the Welsh Government, which has made headway in tackling the issue over the past few years.

“However, there still remains a long waiting list for affordable housing in Wales, not just social housing for rent but also for low-cost home ownership and private rented housing more generally, due to the economic situation.

“It’s clearly a huge issue for Wales and as a Committee we’d urge anyone with knowledge of the field to submit their views to this important inquiry.”

Evidence can be submitted by email: CELG.committee@wales.gov.uk or post: Clerk to the CELG Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA.