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Plans to build 20,000 low-carbon social homes for rent in Wales by 2026 have been set out by the Welsh government's climate change minister.
The hope is to tackle both a housing shortage and the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.
Housing associations say it could lead to thousands of jobs and training opportunities.
But the Welsh government's opponents have said they would have gone further and built more.
The ‘Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 - ‘Creating beautiful homes & places’ will be published today. It will set a bold new standard for new affordable homes funded by Welsh Government. The standard promotes low carbon designs as well as moving away from fossil fuels for domestic heating and hot water systems. The standard is below, and will come into force from 1st October 2021.
The Welsh Government has set a target of building 20,000 low-carbon social homes by 2026. These homes will be designed to be energy efficient and use renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and heat pumps. The government hopes that this will help to reduce Wales' carbon emissions and tackle the housing shortage.
The low-carbon social homes will be built across Wales, with a focus on areas where there is a high demand for housing. They will be available to rent to people on low incomes, including families, young people, and people with disabilities.
The Welsh Government is investing £250 million in the project. This funding will come from a variety of sources, including the European Regional Development Fund and the Welsh Government's own budget.
The construction of the low-carbon social homes is expected to create thousands of jobs in the construction and renewable energy sectors. The project is also expected to boost the Welsh economy by an estimated £1 billion.
The Welsh Government's commitment to building low-carbon social homes is a positive step towards tackling climate change and improving the lives of people in Wales. The project is ambitious, but it is essential if Wales is to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050.
Here are some of the benefits of building low-carbon social homes:
- They can help to reduce Wales' carbon emissions.
- They can improve the energy efficiency of homes and save people money on their energy bills.
- They can create jobs in the construction and renewable energy sectors.
- They can boost the Welsh economy.
- They can provide affordable housing to people on low incomes.
The Welsh Government's plans to build low-carbon social homes are a welcome step towards a more sustainable future for Wales.