Housing

We want to achieve repopulated rural communities, living within the resources of our one planet.

 

Many local people, especially youngsters, are leaving rural towns and villages because of the lack of jobs, affordable housing and public services, but property values are kept high by the incoming retiree and second-home market. Affordability will remain a problem for households with modest incomes and the communities will continue to decline unless there is real change.

 

We support Community Land Trusts (CLTs), which hold land in perpetuity and prevent speculation from pushing up prices beyond local affordability.  

 

The Welsh Government is committed to promoting the use of Community Land Trusts as models for affordable housing. Local planning policy would be used to permit CLTs to develop land that would not achieve consent in conventional circumstances.

 

All new housing would be required to achieve carbon neutrality and encouragement would be given to self-builders.