3. 3. Statement: The Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:08 pm on 17 October 2017.

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Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 3:08, 17 October 2017

I’m delighted that the Cabinet Secretary is taking prompt action to get round the really unhelpful ruling by the ONS, and, as we’ve seen, legislation’s already been passed in England to ensure that housing associations can go on being able to contribute really important housing for people who cannot afford to buy their own. And certainly in my own constituency, housing associations like Cadwyn, Wales and West and United Welsh have all delivered on new housing and refurbished housing for people in desperate need. So, for example, United Welsh: 40 one- and two-bedroomed units opposite Cardiff prison, which is essential for those who are affected by the bedroom tax. Cadwyn has redesigned an elderly building that was in desperate need of refurbishment for people who need supported living—beautifully done; the architecture really fantastic—and they built, on an old garage site that had been empty for some 20 years, 26 new homes and one commercial unit, all done with really good architectural standards, and high standards of environmental sustainability—much higher than the private sector, I’m sad to say, which is delivering some new homes in the constituency. I just wondered if you, when you’ve got time, having got through this Bill, could raise the building regulations so that the private sector was, at the very least, meeting the standards that our housing associations are meeting because they know that this is the right thing to do.