Housing associations will soon be able to deliver a wider range of affordable housing and a new-look Home Buy scheme will increase the opportunity for home ownership, thanks to plans unveiled by Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Minister for Housing.

Ms Davies' aims came as she announced progress to date and further action she intends to take to meet the recommendations of a report aimed at increasing affordable housing in Wales.

The Essex Report set out a comprehensive package of recommendations that give a clear foundation and direction for everyone involved in delivering the vision and targets in the 'One Wales' agreement.

-- Advertisement --

Ms Davies said that early progress on the report included having approved 22 new housing schemes (400 new homes) being built to higher energy standards and further progress on streamlining bureaucracy and increasing flexibility in the range of homes that housing associations are allowed to buy.

Ms Davies said: "We are working towards our One Wales promise to deliver 6,500 additional affordable homes despite the current economic climate. However, the future holds even greater challenges that will have to be met in order to deliver promises made.

"Families are struggling with basic housing and energy costs and despite our best efforts, new ways must be found to meet the challenges of the credit crunch."

The Minister promised to keep the government's Mortgage Rescue scheme under review and make further resources available if needed.

The Government will also look at making changes to the social housing grant and regulatory framework in order to in order to free up housing association to look at more innovative ways of creating more affordable homes. The Government will also seek to release more of its own land for redevelopment.

(CD/JM)