Working together to deliver our shared ambition: CIH Cymru welcomes new local government, housing and planning minister

CIH Cymru welcomes Sian Gwenllian on her appointment as local government, housing and planning minister. We look forward to a collaborative relationship working towards our shared ambition of providing a sustainable, safe and affordable home for everyone in Wales.  

Delivering this ambition is dependent on the following commitments:

• Enshrining the right to adequate housing into Welsh legislation
• Delivering more social and affordable homes
• Improving our existing homes and tackling fuel poverty
• Addressing the stigma associated with social housing and promote the positive impact of diverse communities
• A professional, resilient and competent workforce.

By legislating for the right to adequate housing, government is making housing a foundation mission — and we welcome the commitment to begin work on this legislation within the first 100 days, as this will be the driver to make this ambitious change to housing in Wales.

We look forward to working with the minister to deliver safe, suitable and affordable homes as part of an equitable Wales with a fairer future — one where the housing emergency is resigned to the history books. 

Matt Dicks, national director of CIH Cymru commented on the appointment of Sian Gwenllian as local government housing and planning minister:

“Congratulations to Sian Gwenllian on her appointment as local government housing and planning minister. We look forward to working constructively with her and with ministers across government to ensure housing is treated as a national priority. The commitment to begin legislating for the right to adequate housing in Wales is a significant step, and one that must now be matched by pace, delivery and long-term ambition. 

“Housing policy is fundamental to health, equality, economic resilience and community wellbeing. If government is prepared to act decisively in its first 100 days and sustain that focus over the course of this Senedd term, there is a real opportunity to drive down housing need, reduce inequality and improve outcomes for people across Wales.

“Embedding the right to adequate housing in law can help create a Wales where housing is not a source of insecurity, but the foundation for a fairer, more equal and more resilient nation.”