Innovative Housing Solutions

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government – in the Senedd at 3:40 pm on 16 December 2020.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 3:40, 16 December 2020

Thank you, Joyce. I know of your passion for getting apprentices into the construction industry and, in particular, a more diverse group of apprentices, including your championing of women in construction for many years. You'll know I share your enthusiasm to do that. 

I'm really pleased that the innovative housing programme has placed Wales at the vanguard of housing innovation and creativity within the UK. We're investing £45 million into the modular housing industry in Wales this year alone, which generates potentially hundreds of new local jobs and training opportunities with Welsh small and medium-sized enterprises and their local supply chains. Modern methods of construction—and I know you know this already—is a new industry that shows itself able to attract an increasingly diverse workforce, including encouraging more women and younger entrants into construction. It's new and better social housing, but it kick starts a whole new industry that plays an important role in the economic green recovery.

So, we expect that the materials and components used in this next generation of MMC homes will have a Welsh-first approach and preference is shown towards materials and labour so more—ah, got my tongue in a twist—materials and labour sourced locally within Wales, before seeking alternatives from the wider global economy. And we've been working really hard with the MMC providers through the innovative housing programme to both maximise the Welsh supply chain and the number of jobs and training opportunities that that supply chain generates locally as a result, so that the homes built locally will be built by local people for local people.