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Welsh Government set to miss key social housing target

Published

7 months ago

November 19, 2025

WALES’ housing minister has been accused of “celebrating failure” after confirming the Welsh Government will miss a target to build 20,000 social homes.

Labour’s manifesto for the 2021 Senedd election pledged to “deliver 20,000 new low-carbon social homes for rent” – one of six key commitments to the nation before polling day.

But, in a statement to the Senedd on Tuesday (November 18), Jayne Bryant said the Welsh Government was forecasting 18,652 low-carbon homes for rent by the May 2026 deadline.

The housing secretary faced cross-party criticism, with Plaid Cymru accusing ministers of focusing on interpreting data in a “fanciful way” rather than tackling a deepening crisis.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives suggested the official figures were “inflated” with properties added that are “not new builds, not low carbon and not for social rent”.

Joel James, the Tory shadow housing secretary, raised an Audit Wales report which called for a longer-term approach to planning and funding beyond the five-year target.

He highlighted warnings from the Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru that this year’s budget falls well short of what is needed to achieve the 20,000 aim.

His Conservative colleague Mark Isherwood accused the Welsh Government of dismissing warnings of a looming housing crisis for decades.

He told the Senedd: “You only set a target to deliver 20,000 new low-carbon homes for social rent this Senedd term, and you now say your forecasts have delivered 18,652 low-carbon homes for rent within the social sector.

“Given you have inflated this – by adding homes that are not new builds, not low carbon and not for social rent, including homes for intermediate rent and shared ownership…, why should you not be accused of deliberate deception in your statement today?”

David Rees, the Senedd’s deputy speaker or Dirprwy Lywydd, urged Mr Isherwood to be mindful of his language and the serious nature of the allegation.

Siân Gwenllian, Plaid Cymru’s shadow housing secretary, said a 12% year-on-year increase in “affordable” homes sounds positive on the surface.

Plaid Cymru MS Sian Gwenllian — Plaid Cymru MS Siân Gwenllian

But she told the Senedd that just over 13,000 of the promised 20,000 social homes have been provided, to date, “and that is the only figure that counts”.

“That is the important figure,” she said. “The other things are maybes, so let’s not turn this statement into a celebration. We have a housing crisis in Wales and the crisis is deepening.

“When we look more deeply at the entire picture, it’s clear that the reality of the people of Wales runs counter to the optimistic narrative that we’re hearing from the government today.

“One in every 14 households is waiting for a social home – and at the current rate it would take 35 years to meet that demand.”

John Griffiths, who chairs the Senedd’s housing committee, raised his committee’s calls for Wales to build an extra 60,000 social homes to catch up to comparable European countries.

His Labour colleague Mike Hedges warned Wales is not building co-operative housing at “anywhere near” the scale of the rest of Europe and North America.

Jenny Rathbone, a fellow Labour backbencher, welcomed an improvement in the number of homes being built, with the highest increase in two decades.

Labour’s Lesley Griffiths suggested the Welsh Government had already hit the stretching 20,000 target. “I think reaching it is a significant achievement,” she said.

Ms Griffiths, a former minister, pointed out that Wrexham has outperformed on social housing, with 33.6 units per 10,000 households compared with the Welsh average of 26.5.

Calling on all local authorities to play their part in “tackling the housing crisis”, Ms Rathbone described Caerphilly Council as one of the “lowest providers” of social housing.

However, Jayne Bryant responded: “Caerphilly has the fourth highest social housing stock in Wales amongst local authorities. It has had 368 social housing grant-funded homes, and there’s a number more in the pipeline, which is really good.

“There are another 186 in reserve and a potential 306 in the pipeline as well. So, there is a pipeline coming from Caerphilly, as there are with other local authorities. But we work with local authorities closely, and housing associations and RSLs (registered social landlords), to really see where they can improve.”

Ms Bryant confirmed 3,643 additional “affordable” homes were completed across Wales in 2024/25 – a 12% increase on the previous year – with more than £2bn invested since 2021 in an effort to meet the “most ambitious housing target in our nation’s history”.

In her statement, Wales’ housing secretary told the Senedd: ”By May 2026, we are forecast to have delivered 18,652 low-carbon homes for rent within the social sector.”

Ms Bryant added that a further 1,652 units are in the pipeline for the end of 2026 – beyond the Welsh Government’s five-year term – which would bring the total to 20,304.

She said: “That represents the highest sustained delivery of social housing in Wales in nearly two decades, and the pipeline beyond 2026 remains strong.”

“These aren’t just statistics, they are lives changed. A nurse finally able to live near the hospital where she works; a mother able to tuck her children into a bed in a home she can afford; and an older couple able to stay in the community they’ve called home all their lives.”

Community

Bellringers praised at St Davids Cathedral service

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SERVICE was held today at St Davids Cathedral for the annual meeting of the Diocesan Guild of Bellringers.

Fr Jim, the guild’s chaplain, led the service, during which the Bishop of St Davids preached and thanked members for their dedication to churches across the diocese.

He spoke about the important role bells play in marking moments of worship, celebration and remembrance, and said he had been personally moved when bells marked significant points in his own ministry.

The guild is keen to encourage new people to take up bellringing and says it is a friendly and approachable group for anyone interested in getting involved in church life.

Community

Hundreds of pupils unite for special Eisteddfod song

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN FROM 50 SCHOOLS HELP CELEBRATE BRO’R GARREG LAS

HUNDREDS of primary school children from across west Wales have come together to release a special song celebrating the communities, language and landscape of Bro’r Garreg Las.

The song, Croeso i Fro’r Garreg Las, has been recorded by pupils from 50 schools across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod in Llantood.

The project marks the countdown to the festival, which will be held from August 1 to August 8.

More than 500 children have taken part, with the song celebrating the area’s Welsh language, local communities, culture and sense of identity.

The track has been released on digital platforms alongside a colourful video filmed at some of the region’s best-known locations.

Pupils travelled to sites including Cardigan, Tenby, St Davids, Pentre Ifan and Drefach Felindre to perform and help bring the song to life.

The lyrics were written by poet Ceri Wyn Jones, with the melody by Einir Dafydd. The track was produced by Mei Gwynedd and the video was filmed by Gareth Bull.

Pembrokeshire County Council leader, Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the National Eisteddfod to Llantood this summer.

“It’s been a pleasure to see young people from the three counties come together to create a special song that celebrates the area, and builds excitement as we look forward to the Eisteddfod.

“Collaboration across Bro’r Garreg Las has been at the heart of this project.”

Cllr Catrin M S Davies, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said: “This song celebrates the Welsh language and the unique character of the whole area – from the coast to the countryside.

“Ceri Wyn’s lyrics also offer a taste of our history and heritage. There will be an opportunity for the whole of Wales to enjoy our area in August and to hear some of our stories – come along!”

Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Welsh and English-medium schools across the counties to create this special song.

“Over 500 children have contributed to it, which is an incredible achievement. It is wonderful to see that the Welsh language and the Eisteddfod belong to everyone.”

The song can be heard on digital platforms now, while the video is available to watch on YouTube.

Photo caption: Children from schools across Bro’r Garreg Las have joined forces to record a special song ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod.

Community

Ceremonial gown linked to Prince Charles’ 1969 investiture discovered in Saundersfoot

Published

7 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CEREMONIAL gown worn by the grandson of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George during the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles has been discovered at an antiques roadshow in Pembrokeshire.

The gown, worn by Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, was found alongside his original invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to take part in the historic ceremony at Caernarfon Castle.

The items were brought to a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Saundersfoot by a member of the public who had acquired them after they were removed from Ffynone House, near Boncath, the Earl’s former Pembrokeshire country seat.

The Earl, who lived from 1924 to 2010, was the grandson of David Lloyd George, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister. He was given a prominent role at the investiture on July 1, 1969, carrying the ceremonial sword during the nationally televised event.

The red ceremonial gown bears the Earl’s name on a label inside and is believed to have been made especially for him for the ceremony. It was kept at Ffynone House for decades.

The current owner said she rescued the items in 2021 after seeing possessions from the house being advertised for sale.

She said: “The owner explained that many historic possessions connected to the Lloyd George family were likely to be discarded following the sale of the house and its contents.

“I felt I could not let that happen with the gown and the letter, as these felt like genuine pieces of Welsh history and I wanted to make sure they were preserved.”

Antiques specialist Neil Church, of WeBuyVintage, said the discovery was immediately significant.

He said: “Every so often, something comes through the door that truly stops you in your tracks, and this was one of those moments.

“Far more than an old ceremonial garment, it was a remarkable discovery directly connected to one of the most significant royal and historic moments in modern Welsh history, the investiture of the now King Charles.

“What made it especially fascinating was its provenance, tracing it back to the grandson of the former Prime Minister of Britain and the family’s historic country seat, Ffynone House.

“While we valued it at around £600, its historical significance reaches far beyond its monetary worth.”

The gown and invitation are now being described as a rare surviving piece of Welsh and royal ceremonial history, rediscovered in west Wales more than half a century after they were used at Caernarfon Castle.

Photo caption: Historic find: The ceremonial gown worn by Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor at the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles was discovered at a Saundersfoot antiques roadshow (Pic: WeBuyVintage).