The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that it was going to seek new, more wide ranging powers to modernise social housing.

Ensuring better quality and more affordable housing remains a top priority for the Welsh Assembly Government and we have undertaken a thorough review of policies over the past two years. This fresh thinking is set out in the draft National Housing Strategy, Supporting People Strategy and Homelessness plans as well as our work with partners to implement the Essex Review. All of these will be complete and published in the autumn.

These strategies address the challenges facing housing through the current economic climate, including the tightening public purse, but also challenges such as climate change which we will face over the long term.


The new housing Legislative Competence Order will incorporate the aims of the Affordable Housing LCO to preserve social housing stock, which is being withdrawn from Parliament.

It will seek to modernise the system, meet tenants aspirations for home equity ownership and reform the Right to Buy scheme.

Deputy Minister for Housing Jocelyn Davies said: "There have been some considerable developments in housing since 2007, not least the economic downturn which has impacted on the availability of homes and mortgages.

"Work is already underway to seek additional powers so that we're able to deliver our wider housing ambitions and it makes sense to incorporate our commitments within the previous LCO into one wide-ranging LCO.

"Since 2007 we have done some considerable work in the area of affordable housing.

"We must look at how we can preserve and protect social housing for tenants now and in the future for the people of Wales."

(CD/NS)