Assembly Government needs to issue more robust guidance on affordable housing says AM.

12.00.00am GMT Wed 6th Feb 2008

The Welsh Government should offer more robust guidance to local councils on how to use their powers so as to maximise the number of affordable house being built in Wales, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, Peter Black, has said.

Speaking in the Assembly today, Mr. Black referred to evidence given to the Committee considering the legislative competence order on affordable housing, that only 803 units of affordable housing were built last year in Wales using section 106 planning agreements, but that these were confined to just 11 of Wales' 22 local authorities. The other 14 planning authorities in Wales failed to secure any agreement from developers to build homes within a price range that most local people could afford.

"There is a huge disparity around Wales in the way that Councils approach the issue of affordable housing," said Mr. Black. "Most of them do not use all the tools at their disposal nor are they robust enough with developers and in the formulation of their own planning policies."

"Councils such as South Shropshire, where developers are required to designate half any development as affordable housing and where the Council has not lost an appeal against this policy, are showing us the way forward. The Welsh Government need to be more pro-active in advising Councils and supporting them in their efforts to provide affordable homes."