The report was published today by the Essex Review, an independent review commissioned by the Assembly Government last year to look into affordable housing, which was chaired by former Labour Minister Sue Essex. Its aim was to explore possible mechanisms for delivering one of the Labour-led Assembly Government’s main priorities – the ‘One Wales’ commitment of creating 6,500 affordable homes in Wales by 2011.
The current housing crisis has put the spotlight on the problem and has created the political will to recognise that the ‘foot will need to be heavy on the pedal for sometime’ to create a good and well distributed stock of affordable housing in Wales. The Review Group has set out a comprehensive package of recommendations that give a clear foundation and direction for everyone involved in delivering the aspirations and targets in the ‘One Wales’ document. It sets out the requirements for change under the strategic leadership of the Assembly Government and working with local authorities, housing associations and others to ensure delivery.
The Report gives a number of recommendations and the key conclusions are:
- the need for a strong and sustained political support to deliver affordable housing to deliver and go beyond the 6,500 houses in ‘One Wales’
- the need to work in work in close partnership with housing associations and local authorities
- to free up Housing Associations to provide more homes and community regeneration by revising the regulatory framework
- maximise all funding streams available, including private sector sources and facilitating the release of public sector land for new affordable homes
- to work with housing association consortia to increase quality and give best value
- to obtain an information base on the housing needs across Wales and target resources to meet needs
- strong emphasis on performance at local and national level to deliver targets
The report identifies that the key to delivering the reports aims are :
- the creation of a new regulatory framework for housing associations
- for each local authority to have their own targets with a housing forum, involving all key players focused on delivery
- that the Welsh Assembly Government acts as a supportive partner in terms of grant aid, planning context, finance of land lease
- the Minister to take an overall responsibility for performance and work in close liaise with key stakeholders to ensure the Government stays responsive to change in housing market
The group met or received evidence from over 70 organisations or individuals. Over 100 people also contributed through workshops or conferences.
The report can be found at: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/housing/publications/essexreview/?lang=en
