News

• The Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) have renewed the Strategic Partnership Agreement, reaffirming their joint commitment to trusted partnership, fair funding and reducing bureaucracy. 

• The renewed Agreement, launched at the WLGA Conference, reflects the priorities of the new Welsh Government while building on the strong foundations of the original Agreement. 

• The Welsh Government is providing more than £2.3 million through the Housing with Care Fund to support new housing and care projects in Caerphilly and Carmarthenshire.

• The funding will allow more people with care and support needs to live independently in their own communities, avoid unnecessary hospital stays and return home sooner.

• The investment supports an integrated approach to housing, health and social care.

The Welsh Government has commissioned new research by the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) to review the formula used to distribute funding to local authorities in Wales. 

The Welsh Government has launched a public consultation as part of a major revision of the National Development Framework – which sets out how places, communities, infrastructure and natural resources should be planned and managed through the planning system in Wales.  

• Tamsin Ramasut and Professor Simon Gibson CBE announced as co-chairs for the Town Centre Taskforce  

• £1 million of new funding announced for town centre regeneration projects in Bangor and Bridgend  

• The taskforce has been established as a 100-day Government commitment  

The Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Siân Gwenllian, has issued the following statement in response to the recent incident at Gwaelod-y-garth.

• The Welsh Government is extending three schemes that help with the costs of buying or renovating homes until the end of the 2026/27 financial year
• Up to 400 households could be offered help through Help to Buy – Wales, while the Help to Stay - Wales scheme will continue to provide a safety net for homeowners struggling to keep up with mortgage payments
• Support for up to 300 empty and neglected properties to be renovated and brought back into use as safe, energy-efficient family homes through the Empty Homes Grant.

The Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Siân Gwenllian, has issued the following update on wildfire incidents across Wales.

The Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Siân Gwenllian, has issued the following statement in response to the ongoing wildfire incidents across Wales. 

• Nearly £450,000 invested and up to 19 new qualified planners to be supported across Wales 

• New rural scheme targets workforce shortages in mid and west Wales 

• Welsh-speaking graduates to benefit from locally-focused "grow your own" approach

• Welsh families to benefit from whole-home energy upgrades

• Monthly energy costs cut by up to 50 per cent for some residents

• Part of the Welsh Government's commitment to healthier homes

• Extra £20 million allocated to increase social housing supply across Wales 

• Funding will help move people out of unfit temporary accommodation into quality homes 

• Investment contributes to the Welsh Government's target of 20,000 new social homes