Building New Homes

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 4 October 2022.

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Photo of Tom Giffard Tom Giffard Conservative 2:08, 4 October 2022

I thank the First Minister for his answer. I'm sure you agree with me, First Minister, that it's really important that people, particularly younger people, can get on the housing ladder and afford to buy their own home. One symptom of increased house prices that can make it unaffordable is the lack of supply in the market in the first place. Swansea Council, in 2019-20, promised to build 1,360 homes; they built 397. In 2020-21, they promised to build 1,654; they built 446. I heard from his answer to Adam Price earlier that he likes to blame others for the problems in the housing market. Well, the thing he does control is the number of houses being built, and when you're only building a quarter of the number that you've promised, there is no wonder that house prices are expensive in Wales. So, how is the Welsh Government encouraging councils like Swansea Council to get a move on and build the houses they promised they would?