Joyce calls for action on 18,000 empty rural homes - Assembly review on Affordable Housing praises Carmarthenshire empty property work

JOYCE WATSON AM today called for practical steps forward to tackle rural housing issues during debate on the Assembly’s Affordable Housing review.

The recent Joseph Rowntree report on Rural Housing in Wales showed that there were 18,000 empty properties in rural Wales alone.

Speaking in the Assembly, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales JOYCE WATSON AM said:

"I welcome this independent report, which highlights good practice that can be taken forward to provide some pragmatic solutions to this urgent and complex issue across Wales.

"Finding affordable housing is a real problem across rural Wales but these practical steps will make a real difference and play a key role in the Welsh Assembly Government’s anti-poverty agenda, which includes a strong commitment to securing 6,500 more affordable homes in Wales over this Assembly term.

"I am glad that the report praises the efforts of Carmarthenshire Council, which has worked hard over recent years to bring empty properties into use and to drive policy through its affordable housing action plan, ‘A Step on the Ladder’.

Deputy Housing Minister Jocelyn Davies agreed with Mrs Watson, saying she was quite right that the Assembly needed to work closely with partners to get good value for money and spread good practice. She said local authorities have considerable powers, and Carmarthenshire was using these to tackle the issue.

Councillor HUGH EVANS, Executive Board Member for Housing and Public Protection on Carmarthenshire Council said:

"I am pleased that this report highlights our work, as we have made affordable housing a priority for some time. I look forward to the development of this ambitious strategy."

The Assembly Government commissioned the ‘Affordable Housing in Wales’ report from Sue Essex last October. The report recommends ways to remove over burdensome regulation to allow Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to invest more in social housing.

A wide range of detailed proposals include a recommendation that Registered Social Landlords should have the ability to buy housing stock, and RSLs should no longer need to get individual approval of Physical Adaptation Grants (PAGs) over the value of £3,000.

24th June 2008

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