The most recent house building data in Wales shows that the number of houses that have begun construction in the fourth quarter of 2022/23 was 992. This is just 25% of what is needed to keep the housing market sustainable.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Housing Minister, Janet Finch Saunders MS said:
‘‘A generation of potential home buyers are being let down, with our population continuing to grow, house building continues to not meet demand.
‘‘Wales already faces an exodus of young people leaving their communities due to lack of opportunities, now they will face a further exodus from lack of housing.
‘‘The Housing Industry says we need 16,000 houses built every year, with 4,000 every quarter, yet the fourth quarter of 2022/23 was just 992. Unless something is done, a housing disaster is on the horizon.
‘‘Labour has already denied thousands the opportunity of getting on to the property ladder by banning people from buying their own council house. Now people can’t even get on the property ladder through new builds.
‘‘The Labour government has allowed housebuilding to stagnate to appalling levels, they continue to fail to hit their own housing targets. They are on a path to failing a generation.”
Only 992 new dwellings beginning construction makes the fourth quarter of 2022/23 the lowest quarter for house building since the fourth quarter of 2008/09 (682). Worryingly, this also makes the fourth quarter of 2022/23 the second lowest quarter for housebuilding since records began in 1974/75.
