Ambitious plans for over 1,000 affordable homes

Carmarthenshire’s Executive Board member for housing has revealed the authority’s ambitious plan to deliver at least 1,000 affordable homes over the next five years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Linda Evans and Carmarthenshire County Council officers have drawn up a £60million plan as part of their Affordable Housing Commitment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They also plan to deliver a new-build programme that will further increase the number of homes created, and provide additional investment across four ‘action areas’ – Ammanford and the Amman Valley; Carmarthen and the west; Carmarthenshire rural and market towns; and Llanelli and district. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Affordable Homes Delivery Plan is just starting its journey through the political process, getting its first airing at the Community Scrutiny Committee on February 12, before going to Executive Board and Full Council for approval. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have carried out a comprehensive assessment of need before creating this plan, which has underlined the action we need to take to meet the demand for affordable homes,” said Cllr Evans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This plan sets out how we plan to deliver a programme of investment which will improve our performance in order to meet that need.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A variety of solutions have been drawn up in order to deliver on the plan, including managing additional tenancies in the private sector through the council’s Social Lettings Agency; bringing more empty homes back into use, and buying private homes for social let. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council could also choose to build new homes on its own land, or make land available for new homes in partnership with housing associations and the private sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Resources could be maximised by utilising external funding, such as the Social Housing Grant, to support wider regeneration initiatives and adapted housing for people with disabilities and additional needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We need to ensure the supply of affordable homes reflects housing need across Carmarthenshire,” added Cllr Evans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a huge challenge, but one we’re prepared to meet.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​