A network of specialist "housing enablers" will be expanded across rural Wales to increase the supply of affordable housing in a new scheme announced by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, who attended the launch of the Joseph Rowntree Commission’s report on Rural Housing in Wales today, also announced a new grant scheme to help first time buyers make their homes more energy efficient.

The Rural Housing Development Scheme will provide funding to expand an already successful set of pilot "Rural Enabler" posts into a comprehensive resource across Wales.

Funds are also being made available to develop the concept of "Community Land Trusts" - another potential way of expanding the supply of affordable homes in rural areas that involves local people.

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The Rowntree Commission's report notes the problems specifically in rural communities relating to the provision of affordable housing. These include the lack of available land, the small scale of development leading to higher costs and the need to understand the needs and ambitions of local people.

All of these issues can be tackled by having specific officers, rural enablers that can work with local people and all those involved in the provision of new homes to overcome these issues. The work will include identifying the need for new homes, land that could be made available and the resources that could be accessed to provide new homes.

The report also identifies the difficulties faced by those wanting to buy their first home. Recognising these difficulties, the Assembly Government is launching a new pilot scheme for providing energy efficiency grants to first time buyers.

The £500,000 pilot scheme is being launched in existing housing renewal areas, where the difference between average incomes and mortgage costs is highest, making house purchases most unaffordable.

It will provide a grant of up to £5k, for first time buyers to help improve the energy efficiency of their new homes. This means that the pilot will help first time buyers in the most expensive areas and at the same time make a contribution to meeting WAG's objective of improving energy efficiency and reducing energy costs for their owners.

(JM)