The Welsh Assembly Government is applying for powers which could help local authorities further stem the loss of affordable housing in Wales.

This Legislative Competency Order laid by the Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, will allow the Assembly Government to bring forward a measure to suspend the right to buy scheme on application from local councils in Wales.

This move is one of a number of actions being taken by the Assembly Government in order to increase the availability of affordable homes. These include an increase in social housing grants and in future there will be a requirement for local authorities to produce affordable housing delivery plans.

-- Advertisement --

In the draft budget, the Assembly Government has also committed an extra £30 million over three years to help meet the target of building 6,500 new affordable homes.

The Deputy Minister, said: "We made a commitment in One Wales to seek legislative power for the Assembly to suspend the Right to Buy in areas of housing pressure. It is a problem that affects areas across Wales, but particularly our rural communities.

"In some communities few properties remain in the social housing stock, making it very difficult for people on modest incomes to find a home. I am confident that the steps we are taking now will make a considerable difference to the current situation."

Almost 60 per cent council housing stock in Powys and Ceredigion has been sold under the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire schemes. Since the introduction of the Right to Buy (in 1980) and the Right to Acquire (in 1997), over 140,000 dwellings have been purchased by tenants in Wales - almost half the original social housing stock.

(JM)