, 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 , 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.
, 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.
, 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.
