Launched at the CIH Cymru conference, ‘Housing and its benefits – the added value’, insisted funding for the housing sector must not be sacrificed for other areas, such as security, health and education.
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Otherwise, these areas would suffer due to the breakdown of communities.
In the foreword to the report, Linda Whittaker, director of housing at the Welsh Assembly, said: “Housing is a key driver in regenerating the physical environment, improving social cohesion and generating economic benefits through training and employment opportunities. However, the main benefit is the health and wellbeing of the individuals within those areas we invest in. We are on the cusp of a great opportunity, together we must ensure it is taken.”
The CIH hopes the report is the start of a wider debate in Wales to update its housing strategy and place it more centrally in rulemakers’ minds.
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The report also highlighted some of the successes of housing policy in Wales and the work of community projects in helping create better communities.
Nigel Speirs, chief executive of Buckles Investment Services, believed no special measures were needed in Wales compared to anywhere else.
“It depends on different areas. In North Wales and on the coast, house prices are some of the top movers in terms of percentages at the moment and demand across the market is very strong. There are problem areas in Wales where people have been priced out of the market but this has been a problem for some years.”
