One of the most emotive issues raised on the doorstep during the Assembly election campaign was that of affordable housing.
When canvassing in Betws y Coed, it was clear to me that many people were disappointed at the housing situation in the village where young people working there couldn’t afford to buy even a small terraced house in the area.
The same is true in villages across the whole of Wales, and with young people moving out, small schools are dying, post offices closing and local pubs shutting their doors. The very essence of rural life is being eroded before our very eyes because of a housing crisis that could have been avoided.
One of the key issues seems to be that of planning restrictions and local needs should be considered in any housing development plan. Rather than having large housing developments of hundreds of houses approved as many councils will do under pressure from developers, local authorities should look to release parcels of land within rural villages for sale to young families who can then self-build, either individually or through working with housing organisations or local builders.
Remember, when we now talk about affordable housing, it is no longer an issue of social housing as thousands on the average Welsh wage are struggling to buy a home.
Given that the average annual full time salary in Wales is around £24,000, then a single person on that wage would require a deposit of around £30,000 for even a small terraced house in many parts of North Wales. In addition, a working couple wanting to buy a detached house would be struggling to pay an average of £210,000 for such a home in Gwynedd - and that is assuming prices do not increase, which they did by eight per cent across North Wales last year.
This, of course, doesn't include the many young people who are on a far lower wage than most graduates and remained in their localities only to find that they couldn’t afford to buy a home in the area where they work and want to raise a family.
We need a clear approach on affordable housing which involves civil servants, academics, housing associations and pressure groups such as Cymuned. Most importantly, housing specialists within private sector organisations such as the Principality Building Society, estate agents and major housebuilders should be involved to ensure their expertise can help deliver a real solution to a real world problem.
In the last eight years, the Assembly has stood by watching impotently as the average house price in Wales has increased from £50,000 to £140,000, a price which is now out of the reach of many young families.
The time has now come for politicians to get their act together quickly to respond to what will be one of the major social and economic challenges in Wales over the next four years.
Let’s hope that our democratic institution, with its new powers, is up to the task.
When canvassing in Betws y Coed, it was clear to me that many people were disappointed at the housing situation in the village where young people working there couldn’t afford to buy even a small terraced house in the area.
The same is true in villages across the whole of Wales, and with young people moving out, small schools are dying, post offices closing and local pubs shutting their doors. The very essence of rural life is being eroded before our very eyes because of a housing crisis that could have been avoided.
One of the key issues seems to be that of planning restrictions and local needs should be considered in any housing development plan. Rather than having large housing developments of hundreds of houses approved as many councils will do under pressure from developers, local authorities should look to release parcels of land within rural villages for sale to young families who can then self-build, either individually or through working with housing organisations or local builders.
Remember, when we now talk about affordable housing, it is no longer an issue of social housing as thousands on the average Welsh wage are struggling to buy a home.
Given that the average annual full time salary in Wales is around £24,000, then a single person on that wage would require a deposit of around £30,000 for even a small terraced house in many parts of North Wales. In addition, a working couple wanting to buy a detached house would be struggling to pay an average of £210,000 for such a home in Gwynedd - and that is assuming prices do not increase, which they did by eight per cent across North Wales last year.
This, of course, doesn't include the many young people who are on a far lower wage than most graduates and remained in their localities only to find that they couldn’t afford to buy a home in the area where they work and want to raise a family.
We need a clear approach on affordable housing which involves civil servants, academics, housing associations and pressure groups such as Cymuned. Most importantly, housing specialists within private sector organisations such as the Principality Building Society, estate agents and major housebuilders should be involved to ensure their expertise can help deliver a real solution to a real world problem.
In the last eight years, the Assembly has stood by watching impotently as the average house price in Wales has increased from £50,000 to £140,000, a price which is now out of the reach of many young families.
The time has now come for politicians to get their act together quickly to respond to what will be one of the major social and economic challenges in Wales over the next four years.
Let’s hope that our democratic institution, with its new powers, is up to the task.
(Daily Post 18-06-07)
Comments
This seems to be a moral question, first of all, as to how government acts to make sure folks can afford to live in their home towns.
Beyond these basic questions, are other issues that frequently 'slip through the cracks'. For example, what about the disabled, elderly and under-employed?
If a fully-employed and healthy person can't get a foot on the ladder, then how does one of our disabled students ever hope to own a home?
And many studies show that affordable housing is directly related to health and mental well-being.
Some one has to be take a brave step in this and may be make some radical policy decisions.
Other countries seem to be able to deal with the problem through innovative thinking and actually positively promoting the right of local people to local housing. Check out Denmark on this.
The other point is our obsession with home ownership. Again looking at Europe where there is far more good quality ,excellent rented property, reasonably priced and maintained, many would choose to rent if they could do so with out the fear of mega rent rises and if properties were attractive and maintained
What we need to a root and branch evaluation of where Wales is in respect to Housing of all kinds and some worthwhile policies decanted from that, which make sense
"The other point is our obsession with home ownership."
It is part of our culture. Even an investment for old age, a better bet than insecure pensions. One of the big gripes is high rents making it impossible for yung couples to save enough for a deposit on a home.
It can be almost impossible for the disabled to get the right kind of housing. There are long waiting lists for rented accommodation and many years of waiting for grants for adaptions if you own your home. It's an area no political party wants to talk about. And a growing problem with more long term disability and an ageing population.
There is the other problem of being able to afford to stay in your own home if you are on disability benefits and/or pension. There is a cut off point for state help and many disabled and younger pensioners (mostly women) are finding they cannot meet the costs of increasing council tax, fuel bills etc.