Written - Steps to increase Affordable Housing

In June I reported to you that I had received the full report on affordable housing commissioned from Sue Essex. I also mentioned that the task and finish group had identified five interim recommendations that would improve our ability to meet our housing ambitions, expressed in the One Wales agreement. We have consulted with all parties that included local authorities, tenant organisations, private sector representatives and housing associations, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.

I am therefore pleased to announce that:

• Housing associations, through an amendment to their regulatory framework, will have the flexibility to make greater use of their assets to invest more in housing and community investment.
• Bureaucracy will be reduced by streamlining our processes that give permission to borrow.
• The programme for reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency will be accelerated by encouraging the building of new homes to a higher standard, with grant aid.
• It will be much easier and quicker for housing associations to access Physical Adaptation Grant. Those needing help will get it faster and again we will reduce bureaucracy.
• Housing Associations working with their Local Authorities will have more flexibility to purchase existing properties, giving us another tool to meet the needs of our communities.

We will be considering the rest of the Essex Report, and working with partners to develop the key recommendations through out the year. I will keep you informed on progress. In the meantime, those announced today, are consistent with the direction we want to take. They make improvements for tenants and our communities, are the result of working in partnership, reduce bureaucracy and encourage innovation. I commend them to you.