Housing expansion needs close scrutiny

THE Welsh Government’s blueprint for future development sets out clearly how it sees Wales growing over the next 20 years.

It identifies three main “urban clusters” where it believes expansion should take place – Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys; Swansea Bay and Llanelli; and Wrexham and Deeside.

The Welsh Government believes it wise to expand in such urban centres rather than in rural locations where new homes could infringe on agricultural land.

Nearly half of the 114,000 new housing units planned between now and 2038 would be affordable homes, largely provided by housing associations.

While it is possible to identify areas of housing shortage based on existing demographics, it is less easy to guarantee that job opportunities

of the scale hoped for will be delivered.

With Brexit on the horizon, it is difficult to predict with any degree of confidence where the new jobs will come from.

Planners also need to be cautious about the kind of housing development that is permitted.

Cities like Cardiff have seen a spate of planning consents granted for new student accommodation, with many believing there will be an over-supply that will prompt developers to seek a variation of planning permission so that the new units can be let to general tenants.

We are already seeing how the abolition of tolls on the Severn Bridge is encouraging people living in Bristol to move to Wales.

This is leading to inflation-busting increases in house prices, making it more difficult for local people to get on the housing ladder, as well as making it likely that Welsh towns will be turned into dormitory suburbs for an English city.

The clustering of new housing schemes in urban areas carries the risk of greater traffic congestion. While the Welsh Government has an idealistic view of residents travelling to work by bicycle or on foot, many will expect to be able to drive their cars – and park them with ease.

Improvements to public transport are essential if main roads are not to be choked with traffic, and congestion charges need to be introduced to deter people from travelling to work by car.

It’s very important that the details of the new plan are scrutinised thoroughly before they are implemented, with the views of existing residents given due weight.