Concerns Over Welsh Government Housing Targets 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have expressed concern after it emerged almost 90,000 households (200,000 people) are now on the social housing list. This is an increase of 40% from 2018 when it was at 65,000.

The Party states that Welsh Government figures show that housebuilding appears to have fallen this year and that Labour is allowing progress to stall. Welsh Government figures released at the start of this month show 1,232 new homes were built between April and June,  27% less than the same quarter of 2019.

If this rate was replicated throughout the whole of 2022, 4,928 homes would be completed far below the median estimated annual need of 7,400.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:

“These figures are seriously concerning.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are proud that during the last Government we were able to use our influence to build 20,000 affordable homes by 2021. However, it now feels like Labour is letting these targets slip through their fingers.

“People across Wales deserve a place to call home and that shouldn’t be an unachievable aspiration. What we are seeing now is generations of people, particularly younger people being unable to move out of their parent’s or relatives’ house and being unable to have an independent life of their own. This is not to mention the number of people being forced to move away from their home town.

“Policies such as increasing taxation on second homes is welcome, but are not a silver bullet. To beat the housing crisis we need to see a higher number of homes being built and we need to see the Welsh Government work closely with local authorities to create the policies that enable housing (both social and private) to be built.”