Welsh Assembly Government updates affordable housing guidance

Ministers expect that the provision of affordable housing in Wales will be improved thanks to changes to planning policy and guidance proposed by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Under these proposals, now out for consultation, local authorities will be required for the first time to set targets for affordable housing in local development plans.

A new breed of housing assessment exercises will identify the number of affordable and "market" homes needed in an area.

Where such local assessments identify an acute need for affordable housing, planning authorities will be encouraged to allocate sites solely for affordable homes in local development plans.

At the same time as announcing these measures, the Welsh Assembly government has begun a review of land owned by the assembly and other public bodies in a bid to increase the supply of suitable sites for affordable housing.

Draft guidance from the Welsh Assembly government says planning authorities "should include in their development plan either site thresholds or a combination of thresholds and site specific targets".

Welsh planning minister Carwyn Jones said: "We are updating planning guidance to ensure that the planning system plays its part in delivering more affordable housing across Wales."

He added: "We want to see improved partnership working to produce local housing assessments, which will provide the joint evidence base for housing strategies and local development plans."

View the 'TAN 1 - Joint Housing land Availability Studies Consultation Draft July 2005' here (PDF 47kb).

View the 'TAN 2 - Planning and Affordable Housing Consultation Draft July 2005' here (PDF 106kb).

Roger Milne

15th July 2005