The Economy & Infrastructure Service Transformation Committee met on Thursday 29 February 2024 to discuss the More Homes Delivery Programme and the committee's work plan. The committee noted the progress of the More Homes Delivery Programme, which aims to increase the number of affordable homes in Swansea.

More Homes Delivery Programme

The committee received an update on the More Homes Delivery Programme, which has a 10-year ambition to deliver 1,000 additional council homes by 2031. The programme has already delivered 255 council homes through a combination of new builds, property conversions, and acquisitions of former right-to-buy properties. The report highlighted the ongoing housing crisis, with the waiting list standing at 7,948 households, a significant portion of whom are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

New council homes are built to the Swansea Standard, focusing on energy efficiency and incorporating renewable technologies to create Homes as Power Stations (HAPS), resulting in lower energy bills for tenants. This standard aligns with Welsh Government requirements for social housing, including net-zero carbon targets and EPC rating A.

The programme is funded through a mix of Welsh Government grants, including the Social Housing Grant, Land and Building Development Fund, and the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme, alongside the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Budget. A total of £56 million has been allocated for the next four years.

Several challenges were identified, including HRA budget pressures, the need to increase the pace of delivery, a challenging portfolio of HRA-owned land, and delays in planning and drainage approvals. To address these, the council is exploring various delivery mechanisms, such as tendering for development partners for specific sites and engaging external expertise for projects like the Gorseinon Business Park. A review of the Swansea Standard is also underway to identify cost-saving measures while maintaining quality, informed by the Welsh Government's Design Net Zero project. The council also plans to maintain its acquisition budget to rapidly increase housing stock.

Discussions during the meeting covered a range of topics, including:

• Use of community buildings: The challenges and potential of converting disused buildings, such as churches, into housing were discussed, with a recognition that significant costs and structural considerations would need to be overcome, potentially requiring substantial Welsh Government funding.
• Multi-generational living: Councillor Will Thomas raised the possibility of piloting multi-generational housing, such as a three-bedroom house with a granny annex. Officers acknowledged the benefits but noted the financial and regulatory challenges, particularly in meeting Welsh Housing Quality Standards and space requirements, which would likely need to be funded from the HRA, potentially diverting funds from new build targets.
• Finance and grant requirements: The committee discussed the complexities of managing and allocating Social Housing Grant, emphasizing the need for transparent partnership working with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to ensure fair distribution based on a prioritised list of schemes.
• Section 106 Agreements: The process of acquiring affordable housing units through Section 106 agreements with private developers was explained, highlighting that these agreements are typically made after planning permission is granted and that the council competes with RSLs for these properties.
• The 'Pattern Book': The Welsh Government's initiative to create a pattern book of net-zero carbon housing designs was discussed, with the understanding that this would primarily be for the council's own properties to speed up design processes.
• Partnership working with RSLs: The importance of collaboration with RSLs was stressed, as the council alone does not have the capacity to deliver all the required social housing, and partnerships are crucial for meeting overall housing targets.
• Housing waiting list breakdown: An updated breakdown of the housing waiting list was provided, showing that 17% were homeless or threatened with homelessness, 63% were waiting list applicants with housing need, and 20% were existing council tenants awaiting a transfer.

The committee resolved to note the progress in relation to the More Homes Delivery Programme.

Work Plan

The committee also reviewed its work plan for the upcoming year. The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 11 April 2024, and would include discussions on the Tawe Riverside Corridor Action Plan and an Annual Report.