The Home Builders Federation (HBF) today launches a Manifesto for Wales challenging candidates in the 3rd May Assembly elections to back five key housing priorities which will tackle the growing affordability crisis and support the tradition of home ownership in Wales.
Based on past research, we estimate that Wales currently has a backlog of unmet demand of some 40,000 homes, which amounts to some five times the total annual build rate. Politicians need to ensure that the current build-rate increases to avoid Wales falling even further behind.
Stewart Baseley, Home Builders' Federation Executive Chairman, said:
"Wales has long enjoyed a tradition of home-ownership. People have benefited from the value of their home rising. Now many young people are struggling to buy for the first time - and hard-working families are struggling to afford larger properties matching their needs.
"The shortage of homes is because too few homes are being built - fewer than when Nye Bevan set the standards for homes across Britain. An affordability crisis exists because there are too few new homes.
That is why the HBF is launching a Manifesto for Wales to coincide with the elections on May 3rd challenging all the candidates to sign up to five key priorities to ensure the aspirations of Welsh people are met."
The five priorities are:
1. Politicians' plans for Wales need to ensure projected new homes and infrastructure improvements reflect future household and employment growth
2. Welsh government needs to play a realistic part in championing low-carbon homes
3. Cardiff needs a homes plan fit for a growing capital that reflects its projected level of new jobs
4. Politicians must tackle the growing shortage of larger homes in Wales
5. The communities of rural Wales need more homes for local people
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For more information or to interview a spokesman for HBF please contact Greg Rosen on 07881 552874
Notes to Editors:
1. The manifesto is being sent to all the candidates in the Wales Assembly elections and a copy is attached to this e-mail
2. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in Wales and England. The HBF's 300 member firms account for over 80% of all new homes built in Wales and England in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies