Use Autumn Statement consequential to deliver 'Barnett share' of affordable homes

Community Housing Cymru (CHC), the membership body for housing associations in Wales, has called for Welsh Government to take bold action following today’s Autumn Statement, investing £227m in social and affordable housing, which will guarantee the delivery of their own target of 7,500 affordable homes.

Social Housing Grant (SHG) faces a 40% cut this year, and a further cut of 20% next year, and studies by the Welsh Economic Research Unit suggest that without further funding, the sector may find it difficult to hit Welsh Government’s target.

Nick Bennett, CHC Group Chief Executive, said: “The social housing sector has repeatedly shown that we can deliver affordable housing targets put to us by Welsh Government. We have levered an additional £1.5bn of private investment, and provide employment for 20,000 people.

He added: “Ed Balls, Labour Shadow Chancellor, has called for a UK programme of house building to lift us out of recession. He called for 100,000 new homes across the UK, and Wales’ ‘Barnett Share’ of that would be 5,000 homes – exactly enough to reach Welsh Government’s target. The Welsh Government – now the only part of the UK ruled by Labour - must match words with action and invest these new resources in housing.”

For further information, please contact aaron-hill@chcymru.org.uk, or call 029 2067 4802.