The Welsh Government is set to commit an initial £250m for 20,000 new low carbon homes for social rent
All low carbon homes will be built to bold new quality and environmental standards with the aim for some of the stock to go beyond net zero and produce more energy than they use.
Visiting one of Wales’ first ‘positive energy’ social housing schemes, the minister for climate change, Julie James, said Wales and West Housing’s Rhiw Cefn Gwlad scheme in Bridgend was ‘an exemplar’ for developers, housing associations, and councils to follow.
‘Going beyond Welsh housing needs’
Julie James said: “We have doubled our money, committing a quarter of a billion pounds this financial year, so we can get on and build 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent.
“This goes beyond Welsh housing need estimates.
“We are building at scale to address the supply and demand imbalance, homelessness, the growing second homes crisis, and the climate emergency.
“We are building high-quality homes to make a difference to people’s quality of living. And we are ensuring the decisions we make today are the right ones for our future generations.”
Cai Phillips and his partner Abigail Rees moved into their 2-bed home at Rhiw Cefn Gwlad with their 3-year-old daughter Olivia after living with their parents in Bridgend.
Cai Phillips said: “The systems built into the house are really easy to use. The house is so well insulated that the temperature hardly drops below 20 degrees. Even on some of the coldest days in winter we didn’t need to put the heating on.
“I can control the heating from an app on my phone and I have learnt how to save energy by using the battery to self-power the house.
“We are paying just £20 a month for our electric bills and are in credit on our bills, which is amazing. The house is perfect.”
