Affordable Housing – Legislative Competence Order

I am pleased to announce that a proposed Legislative Competence Order (LCO) in the field of affordable housing will be laid today.

The One Wales programme for Government included a commitment to seek legislative power for the Assembly in order to suspend the Right to Buy in areas of housing pressure. Commitments were also made in the Manifestos of both coalition partners. This is the basis for the proposed LCO that is being published today.

The Assembly Government has already taken action in a number of areas concerning affordable housing. To take further action concerning affordable housing, the Welsh Assembly Government believes that additional powers are required by means of an Assembly Measure under powers contained in the Government of Wales Act 2006. The LCO would therefore enable the Assembly to legislate by an Assembly Measure to address the significant reduction which the Right to Buy has caused in the supply of social housing available for rent by people in housing need. In particular, the LCO could enable the Assembly to pass a Measure to suspend the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire in areas of housing pressure.

I will make a Legislative Statement during Plenary on 4 December.