NDM6909 Welsh Conservatives debate - Housing
NDM6909 Welsh Conservatives debate - Housing
NDM6909 Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Recognises that the number of homes being built in Wales is inadequate to meet
demand.
2.
Regrets that:
a)
there are currently more than 27,000 empty homes in Wales; and
b)
the average house price in Wales is now roughly over 6 times the average
earnings due to a shortage of homes.
3.
Notes the Welsh Conservatives 'Housing a Nation' white paper which presents a
comprehensive strategy to tackle Wales's housing crisis and provide suitable
housing for all.
4.
Calls on the Welsh Government to;
a)
acknowledge the need to build at least 100,000 homes between 2021-2031; and
b)
give greater flexibility to housing associations so that they can develop a
range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.
Welsh
Conservatives - Housing a Nation
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 - Rebecca
Evans (Gower)
Delete
all and replace with:
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises:
a)
the record investment being made in housing by the Welsh Government.
b)
that a new assessment of housing need and demand is necessary, based on
up-to-date data and the latest household projections.
2. Welcomes:
a)
the Welsh Government commitment to deliver 20,000 affordable homes during this
term of government, which is on track and will be delivered in partnership with
the housing sector.
b) the
introduction of land transaction tax in Wales and the £180,000 starting
threshold for the main residential rate, which means that the majority of
homebuyers, and the vast majority of first-time buyers, pay no tax when buying
a home.
3. Acknowledges
the Welsh Government’s continuing commitment to social housing, which has
remained a fundamental priority, supporting the most vulnerable and protecting
our existing social housing stock, unlike in England.
4.
Notes the flexibility available to housing associations so they can develop a
range of tenures to meet the demand for affordable housing.
[If
amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be de-selected]
Amendment
2 - Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
In
point 1, after ‘being built’, insert ‘in the social housing sector’.
Amendment
3 - Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
In
point 2, delete sub-point (b) and replace with:
that
low wages, insecure employment and high rents present significant barriers to
home ownership.
Amendment
4 - Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
Delete
points 3 and 4 and replace with:
Notes
that homelessness has risen substantially, and that this has cost public
services considerably more than it would have cost to prevent homelessness.
Calls
on the Welsh Government to:
a)
support housing associations and local authorities to increase the social
housing stock through maximising their ability to access finance for this
purpose, including through the use of Welsh Government borrowing powers;
b) implement
the recommendations of the Crisis report, 'Everybody In: How to end
homelessness in Great Britain';
c)
ensure that local development plans include a requirement for investment in
public services in order that new developments can become sustainable
communities; and
d)
ensure that local development plans include a substantially greater proportion
of social housing.
Everybody
In: How to end homelessness in Great Britain
Business type: Debate
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: Complete
First published: 10/06/2021
Decision due: 9 Jan 2019 by Plenary - Fifth Senedd
Lead member: Darren Millar MS