News

Welsh housing schemes extended to help hundreds buy, keep or renovate homes

Published

5 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Help to Buy Wales, Help to Stay Wales and the Empty Homes Grant will continue until March 2027

HUNDREDS of households across Wales are set to benefit after the Welsh Government announced extensions to three schemes designed to make housing more affordable.

Help to Buy Wales, Help to Stay Wales and the Empty Homes Grant will all continue until March 31, 2027.

The extensions could help up to 400 additional households purchase a newly built home, while funding will be available to renovate as many as 300 empty and neglected properties.

Help to Buy Wales allows eligible buyers to purchase a new-build property with a smaller deposit, supported by a shared-equity loan from the Welsh Government.

The scheme has provided a route into homeownership for many first-time buyers who might otherwise struggle to raise a deposit or secure an affordable mortgage.

Help to Stay Wales will also continue for another year, providing support to homeowners who are experiencing difficulty meeting their mortgage repayments and are at risk of losing their homes.

Meanwhile, the Empty Homes Grant will continue to support the renovation of long-term empty properties, bringing neglected buildings back into use as safe and energy-efficient homes.

The Welsh Government said the three schemes would support people at different stages of homeownership, from those purchasing their first property to existing homeowners facing financial difficulties.

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Siân Gwenllian announced the extensions during a visit to Hollybrook Park in Connah’s Quay, where she met residents who had purchased homes through Help to Buy Wales.

She said: “This government is committed to the principle that every family deserves a safe and affordable home in which to live.

“Increasing the supply of social homes is one way of achieving this, and we have announced our target of delivering 20,000 additional homes.

“We are also offering targeted support for those who own or wish to own their homes, an option that is not affordable or accessible for many as prices continue to grow beyond the reach of local people across many parts of Wales.

“Today I am announcing the extension of three schemes that support people buying their first home, help families avoid losing their homes and help renovate empty properties so they can be brought back into use.

“The cost-of-living crisis has hit hard, and these extensions are about helping families and young people to buy and keep their homes through challenging times.

“I am hugely grateful to our partners, including homebuilders, local authorities, mortgage lenders and the Development Bank of Wales, whose commitment makes all of this possible.

“Together, we will keep pushing to make homeownership a reality for more people right across Wales.”

Louisa Edwards, marketing manager at Edwards Homes Ltd, welcomed the continuation of Help to Buy Wales.

She said: “This is excellent news for first-time buyers, providing continued support to help them purchase a new home in Wales.

“To date, 45 per cent of Edwards Homes’ sales have been made through the Help to Buy Wales scheme, demonstrating just how important and valuable it has been in helping people take their first step onto the property ladder.”

Crime

BMW driver admits causing serious injury in A48 Cross Hands crash

Published

55 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Max Dangerfield will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after collision involving a BMW and Toyota Prius

A YOUNG driver has admitted causing serious injury in an early-morning collision on the A48 after his BMW failed to stop for police.

Max Dangerfield, aged 20, of Cwmllethryd Ganol, Felinfoel, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 23.

Dangerfield indicated a guilty plea to causing serious injury to Imran Ilyas by driving dangerously on the A48 at Cross Hands.

The offence involved a BMW M140i and happened on January 25, 2025, when Dangerfield was 18.

The collision occurred at around 4.20am on the westbound carriageway between Cross Hands and Pont Abraham.

The Herald reported at the time that the crash involved a black BMW and a white Toyota Prius.

Dyfed-Powys Police said four people were taken to hospital following the collision. Their injuries were initially described as not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Police also confirmed that the BMW had failed to stop for officers before the collision.

Because of the police contact before the crash, the force notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct and began a formal referral process.

The A48 was closed in both directions between Cross Hands and Pont Abraham for much of the day while collision investigators examined the scene.

Diversions were put in place, with motorists advised to avoid the area as emergency services and investigators continued their work.

Dangerfield has now admitted that his driving caused serious injury to Mr Ilyas.

District Judge Mark Layton committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

A pre-sentence report was ordered and Dangerfield was placed under an interim driving disqualification.

He was released on unconditional bail and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday, August 13.

Crime

Man in custody accused of intentionally strangling woman in Haverfordwest

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Carl Rago is also awaiting sentence after admitting criminal damage to a police van and mobile phone

A CILGERRAN man has been remanded in custody after being accused of intentionally strangling a woman in Haverfordwest.

Carl Rago, aged 29, of Penffynnon, Cilgerran, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 23.

Rago is charged with intentionally strangling Kelly Marie Picton in Haverfordwest on May 25.

No plea has yet been entered to the strangulation charge and the allegation has not been proved.

The court also heard that Rago had previously indicated a guilty plea to criminal damage following a separate incident in Haverfordwest on June 7.

That charge states that he damaged the inside of a Dyfed-Powys Police Vauxhall van and a Samsung mobile phone belonging to the force. The damage was valued at less than £5,000.

Rago was remanded in custody until his next hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on August 13.

The court record states that the decision to refuse bail followed concerns that he could commit further offences, together with an alleged breach of bail conditions, the nature and seriousness of the alleged offending, and his previous record.

Crime

Fishguard man banned from driving after failing to provide blood sample

Published

2 hours ago

July 27, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Arnold Phillips was banned for 3 years and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work

A FISHGUARD man has been banned from driving for three years after admitting that he failed to provide a blood sample during a police investigation.

Arnold Phillips, aged 35, of Pontfaen, Fishguard, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, July 23.

Phillips admitted failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of blood for laboratory analysis in Cardigan on June 9.

The sample had been requested as part of an investigation into whether he had committed a road traffic offence.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order and ordered Phillips to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 36 months and must pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £114 court surcharge.

Phillips also admitted failing, without good cause, to provide a non-intimate sample to establish whether he had a Class A drug in his body while being held in police detention.

No separate penalty was imposed for that offence.

A separate charge alleging that Phillips drove a BMW without due care and attention on the A4076 in Cardigan was dismissed after the prosecution offered no evidence.