Darpariaeth tai fforddiadwy: Ebrill 2025 i Mawrth 2026

This statistical first release presents information on the delivery of additional affordable housing units across Wales during 2025 to 2026.

Affordable housing applies to housing where secure mechanisms are in place to ensure it is accessible to those who cannot afford market housing, both on first and subsequent occupation, as defined in Technical Advice Note (TAN) 2: Planning and Affordable Housing (2006).

The statistics in this release are based on the long-standing TAN 2 definition of affordable housing. They cover all additional affordable housing units delivered through:

• new build
• purchase
• acquisition
• leasing or conversion of existing dwellings

They do not take account of any loss of affordable housing stock through demolitions or sales during the year.

This release also includes information on progress against the previous Welsh Government's commitment to deliver 20,000 low-carbon homes for rent in the social sector between 1 April 2021 and 30 April 2026. This is the final time we will report against that target. Further information is provided in ‘Government targets’.

The Welsh Government's current Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 20,000 additional social homes by 2030. This release also includes information relating to that commitment. Further information is provided in ‘Government targets’.

Unless otherwise stated, the statistics presented in this release relate to affordable housing delivered under the TAN 2 definition. The measures used to monitor government housing commitments are based on different definitions which are explained in the relevant sections.

Throughout the report financial years are referred to using the format ‘YYYY to YYYY’. For example, the financial year from April 2025 to March 2026 is written as ‘2025 to 2026’.

Figure 1: additional affordable housing provision, between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026

Image

Description of figure 1: a bar graph showing the number of additional affordable housing units delivered in Wales each year between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026. The bars show total delivery and those delivered by registered social landlords. The number of units delivered in 2025 to 2026 increased from the previous year.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government

Additional affordable housing provision by location, provider, funding and housing type | StatsWales

In 2025 to 2026, 3,865 additional affordable housing units were delivered across Wales. This is a 6% increase on the previous year and the highest total since data was first recorded in 2007 to 2008.

Welsh registered social landlords (RSLs) continued to make the largest contribution to additional affordable housing in Wales. RSLs delivered 74% of all additional affordable housing provision during 2025 to 2026 (2,859 units).

83% of all affordable housing units were delivered with capital grant funding.

69% of affordable homes delivered were new build (excluding ‘other’ providers, as this is unknown).

94% of affordable homes delivered were for rent (including social and intermediate rent). 4% were shared ownership and 2% shared equity. These percentages exclude ‘other’ providers as tenure is unknown.

Measuring progress

The Programme for Government (UK Government Web Archive) was published by the previous government in June 2021 and updated in December 2021. This was published along with the then Minister for Climate Change’s Written Statement on Social Housing in Wales (15 June 2021). These set out a commitment to deliver 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent within the social sector during the 2021 to 2026 government term.

These official statistics have been the source for monitoring progress against that target. The delivery period for this commitment was 1 April 2021 to 30 April 2026. This differs slightly from the reporting period for these official statistics, which are collected on a financial-year basis (1 April to 31 March).

See the ‘Government targets’ section for more information about this former target.

Figure 2: cumulative number of housing units delivered in relation to the 2021 to 2026 target

Image

Description of figure 2: a graph showing 2 lines measuring progress towards the 20,000 additional homes for rent in the social sector commitment with, and without, the inclusion of voids.

Between April 2025 and March 2026, 3,779 affordable housing units were delivered for rent in the social sector across Wales. An additional 58 ‘void’ social housing units, funded by the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP), were delivered during the year (voids data is based on management information). This brings the total number of units delivered towards the target from April 2021 to March 2026 to 17,236 (16,242 if you exclude voids).

Of the 3,779 units delivered in 2025 to 2026:

• 3,293 were for social rent
• 292 were intermediate rent
• 145 were shared ownership
• 49 were affordable units delivered by other providers

On 13 July 2026, the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning published a Written Statement setting out the scope of the Welsh Government’s target to deliver 20,000 additional social homes by 2030. This commitment was reaffirmed in the Programme for government 2026 to 2030, published 22 September 2026.

Future affordable housing provision statistical releases will include the progress made by the current government wards this target.

Further detail on the 2026 to 2030 target can be found in ‘Government targets’.

Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, 3,865 additional affordable housing units were delivered across Wales (under the TAN 2 definition). Since 1 April 2007, when information on affordable housing was first collected, a cumulative total of 51,406 additional affordable housing units has been delivered. The 3,865 additional affordable housing units delivered during 2025 to 2026 was an increase of 6% (222 units) compared to the units delivered the previous year and the highest total since data was first recorded in 2007 to 2008.

Each local authority sets an affordable housing planned delivery target and this will influence provision. At an individual local authority level, 13 of the 22 authorities reported increases in the provision of additional affordable housing during 2025 to 2026 compared to the previous year. There were notable increases in Cardiff (from 544 to 709) and Swansea (from 230 to 358). The largest decreases were seen in the Vale of Glamorgan (from 316 to 144) and Flintshire (from 213 to 110).

RSLs delivered 7% more additional affordable housing units during 2025 to 2026 than in the previous year (2,859 compared with 2,681). The proportion of all affordable housing units that were delivered by RSLs remained similar from the previous year at 74%. Of these, 2,217 (78%) were newly built properties.

A further 954 units (25%) were local authority owned affordable housing units, the highest total since data was first recorded in 2007 to 2008. Of these, 44% (423 units) were newly built. (see 'Provision' data on StatsWales for full details).

The remaining 52 units (1%) were delivered by other providers. This includes additional affordable housing units delivered directly by private developers through the planning system via Section 106 agreement. Further information on Section 106 agreements is in the Glossary section of this release.

The number of additional affordable housing units delivered within the national park areas increased to 89 units in 2025 to 2026 (from 34 units in 2024 to 2025). This represented 2% of all additional affordable housing provision during 2025 to 2026.

The additional affordable housing figures shown within this release also includes housing units leased to provide accommodation for homeless families where the lease is for more than a year. In 2025 to 2026 there were 152 such housing units, up from 135 units in 2024 to 2025.

Each year, data on the number of affordable housing units planned for delivery during the next financial year are collected on the official statistics returns. This data is collected alongside data on units delivered in the previous year.

According to the data collected at the end of financial year 2025 to 2026, 4,034 affordable housing units (TAN 2 definition) are planned for delivery during 2026 to 2027.

Users should be aware that forecasts may overestimate delivery - as schemes may become delayed, rescheduled, or do not progress as anticipated.

Over the past 2 years, official statistics on planned delivery have been within around 10% of the number actually delivered.

Additionally, management information is collected by Welsh Government to support monitoring of housing delivery linked to government funded programmes. This alternative source of data indicates that between 4,500 to 4,850 homes (TAN 2 definition) are forecast for delivery in 2026 to 2027 (of which 1,636 had been delivered by 30 September 2026).

Management information extracted at 30 September 2025 estimated 4,800 affordable homes would be delivered in 2025 to 2026. This was 24% higher than the number delivered, as reported by the accredited official statistics.
The figures from the official statistics and the management information are not directly comparable. The official statistics are based on annual returns from local authorities, while the management information is compiled using a live database updated by local authorities and registered social landlords. This management information is more recent and is presented as a range to reflect uncertainty around expected delivery.

Further breakdown on affordable housing provision by location provider, funding, housing type and year can be found on StatsWales.

For 2025 to 2026, the rate of additional affordable housing provision per 10,000 households has been calculated using the Household estimates: mid-2024 for Welsh local authorities.

Figure 3: rate of all additional affordable housing units delivered per 10,000 households, by local authority area, April 2025 to March 2026

Image

Description of figure 3: a bar graph showing the rate of additional housing units delivered per 10,000 households in Wales, by local authority area. 7 of the 22 local authorities have rates higher than the Wales average.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government and mid-2024 Household Estimates, Welsh Government

Figure 3 shows that during 2025 to 2026 the rate of additional affordable housing delivery across Wales was 27.8 units per 10,000 households.

The local authority with the highest number of affordable housing units delivered in 2025 to 2026 was Cardiff (709 units or 18% of the Wales total). However, when considering the number of households in each area, Pembrokeshire was the authority with the highest delivery rate at 52.7 units per 10,000 households.

Bridgend had the lowest delivery rate at 8.3 units per 10,000 households, with 53 units delivered in 2025 to 2026.

The Welsh Government provides grant funding for affordable housing such as:

• Social Housing Grant (SHG)
• Recycled Social Housing Grant (RCG)
• Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP)
• Housing Finance Grant (HFG)
• Housing with Care Fund

The availability of grant funding will impact on the ability of all providers, but particularly RSLs, to deliver additional affordable housing across Wales.

Figure 4: number of additional affordable housing delivered by funding source between 2009 to 2010 and 2025 to 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 4: a bar chart showing the number of affordable housing units delivered each financial year with and without capital grant funding.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government

Additional affordable housing provision by location, provider, funding and housing type | StatsWales

[Note 1] 2009 to 2010 was the first time funding source was collected using the current definition.

83% of all affordable housing units were delivered through capital grant funding in 2025 to 2026. This was higher than the proportion for 2024 to 2025 (79%). The proportion of affordable housing units delivered without capital grant fund was 17% (663 units) in 2025 to 2026. The proportion has decreased from 21% (764 units) in 2024 to 2025.

During 2025 to 2026, 83% of all RSL affordable housing provision in Wales were delivered with some form of capital grant funding. This is up from 75% during the previous year. Across Wales, RSL provision with capital grant funding reached over 80% in 15 local authorities.

A breakdown of these figures can be found on the StatsWales website.

Welsh RSLs remained the largest provider of additional affordable housing in 2025 to 2026, delivering 74% of provision in Wales. As the major provider of additional affordable housing across Wales, RSLs are required to provide more detailed information to Welsh Government than other providers. This includes the tenure of the housing units delivered and the number which are delivered within the national park areas.

Welsh RSLs delivered all the additional affordable housing in 4 of the 22 local authorities across Wales and more than half of all the additional affordable housing in 17 of the 18 remaining local authorities. The exception was Cardiff where RSLs were responsible for 48% of all affordable housing provision in 2025 to 2026.

RSL delivery by tenure

Figure 5: number of additional affordable housing units delivered by Welsh registered social landlords, by tenure between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 5: a bar chart showing the number of affordable housing units delivered each year and the tenure of the units. Each year since the start of the collection, the majority have been for social rent.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government

[Note 1] Shared ownership Wales was introduced in February 2018 with the first purchase occurring in 2017 to 2018.

Figure 4 shows that of the 2,859 affordable housing units delivered by Welsh RSLs during 2025 to 2026, 85% were social rented housing (2,439 units). This is higher than the proportion of RSL social rented units delivered in 2024 to 2025 (82%). The social rented housing units provided by RSLs during 2025 to 2026 accounted for 63% of all additional housing delivered by all providers.

A further affordable housing option is intermediate rented properties where the rents are above those of social rents, but below market housing rents.

During 2025 to 2026 a total of 224 intermediate rented properties were delivered by RSLs, a 15% decrease on the 264 units delivered in 2024 to 2025. Intermediate rented properties accounted for 8% of all RSL provision.
RSLs also provide shared equity units for those who are not eligible for social housing, but who cannot afford to buy or rent a property on the open market (see the Glossary). During 2025 to 2026, 51 shared equity units were delivered. This was 1 fewer from 2024 to 2025 and the lowest figure since the collection began in 2007 to 2008. Shared equity units accounted for just 2% of all RSL provision.

From April 2025 to March 2026, RSLs across Wales delivered 145 additional affordable housing units via the Shared-ownership - Wales scheme (see Glossary). This was a decrease of 10% on 2024 to 2025.

Most of the additional affordable housing provided during 2025 to 2026 by RSLs were ‘general needs’ properties. These properties include self-contained units that are not reserved for specific client groups. ‘General needs’ also includes properties that are adapted for use for people with disabilities, but where no additional services or support are provided as part of the terms of occupancy. During 2025 to 2026 these types of property accounted for 92% (2,636 units) of all additional affordable housing provision by RSLs. The remaining 8% (223 units) were housing units provided for use by particular client groups or for specific purposes.

Further information on social rented, intermediate rented, shared equity and also shared ownership - Wales housing units is available in the Glossary.

The number of affordable homes to be provided in a particular area will be determined by the local planning authority’s planning policy. Discussions with developers about what is feasible given the economic circumstances and other factors will also determine the number of affordable homes provided. The agreed affordable housing contribution will be secured by what is known as a planning obligation (or a section 106 agreement). A planning obligation is a legally binding contract between a developer and a local planning authority. A planning obligation operates alongside a planning permission to make a development acceptable to both parties. These arrangements may be used to offset negative consequences of development, to help meet local needs or to secure benefits which would make a development more sustainable.

Figures 6a and 6b below show the number of additional affordable housing units that were granted planning permission each year through planning obligations (section 106 agreements) or planning conditions either as part of, or because of, market housing developments. Granted planning permission refers to final detailed (not outline) planning permissions granted during the year and will mean that a section 106 agreement (where applicable) has already been signed.

It should be noted that additional affordable housing units delivered or granted planning permission through planning obligations may or may not be on affordable housing exception sites.

Figure 6a: additional affordable housing delivered through planning obligations (number granted planning permission) between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 6a: a bar chart showing the number of affordable housing units granted planning permission through planning obligations in local authorities and national parks. This number peaked at 2,399 in 2009 to 2010.

Figure 6b: additional affordable housing delivered through planning obligations (number delivered) between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 6b: a bar chart showing the number of affordable housing units delivered through planning obligations in local authorities and national parks. This number peaked at 1,024 in 2022 to 2023.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government

Provision of affordable housing through planning obligations and on exception sites by authority and planning type | StatsWales

[Note 1] Housing units delivered through planning obligations cannot be summed with those delivered on affordable housing exceptions sites. This is because a housing unit may be delivered through planning obligations and be on a housing exception site.

During 2025 to 2026, the number of additional affordable housing units granted planning permission decreased by slightly to 793. Affordable housing units granted planning permission in national parks decreased by 54% from the previous year to 66. Additional affordable housing units granted planning permission in local authorities (outside national park areas) increased by 10% to 727 units.

During 2025 to 2026, the total number of additional affordable housing units delivered through planning obligations (Section 106 agreements), including within national parks was 823 units. The number decreased by 7% compared with the previous year.

The number of additional affordable housing delivered through planning obligations decreased by 13% (from 856 to 742) in local authorities. Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey accounted for 12% of the units delivered through planning obligations, followed by Bridgend with 8%. Within national parks, the number of additional affordable housing delivered through planning obligations was over triple the previous year (from 26 to 81 units) (Figure 6b).

During 2025 to 2026, 21% of all additional affordable housing was delivered through planning obligations. This proportion is smaller compared with 24% the previous year and 26% during 2023 to 2024.

Affordable housing exception sites are small scale housing sites within or adjoining existing settlements for the provision of affordable housing to meet local needs. These exception sites would not otherwise be allocated in the development plan. Prior to July 2010 these were known as ‘rural exceptions sites’.

The number of affordable housing units granted planning permission to be built on affordable housing exception sites was 421 in 2025 to 2026. This is the highest total to date and 73% higher than 2020 to 2021 which was the previous highest annual total. All units recorded were within local authorities (Figure 7a).

Figure 7a: additional affordable housing granted planning permission on housing exception sites between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 7a: a bar chart showing the number of affordable housing units granted planning permission on exception sites in local authorities and national parks. 2025 to 2026 had the highest figure with 421.

Figure 7b: additional affordable housing delivered on housing exception sites between 2007 to 2008 and 2025 to 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 7b: a bar chart showing the number of affordable housing units delivered on housing exception sites in local authorities and national parks. The number peaked at 206 in 2023 to 2024.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government

Provision of affordable housing through planning obligations and on exception sites by authority and planning type | StatsWales

[Note 1] Housing units delivered through planning obligations cannot be summed with those delivered on affordable housing exceptions sites. This is because a housing unit may be delivered through planning obligations and be on a housing exception site.

Figure 7b shows that in 2025 to 2026, the number of additional affordable housing units delivered on local authority affordable housing exception sites was 126 (nearly triple compared to the 46 in the previous year). These units were in Powys (69 units), Isle of Anglesey (33 units) and Gwynedd (24 units). No units were delivered on affordable housing exemption sites for the remaining 19 local authorities. In 2025 to 2026, 14 affordable housing units were delivered in national parks on housing exception sites. This is up from 2024 to 2025 where zero affordable housing units were delivered on housing exception sites in national parks.

Where a local planning authority has identified a lack of affordable housing it must consider including an 'affordable housing exception site' policy in its development plan. The local authority must set out the circumstances where sites may be released for 100% affordable housing to meet local needs as an exception to the policies for general housing provision.

Figure 8 below shows the extent to which the public sector, including local authorities, are releasing their own land for the purpose of providing additional affordable housing.

During 2025 to 2026, the number of additional affordable housing units delivered on all public sector land was 614 units. This accounted for 16% of all affordable housing provision. Additional affordable housing units delivered on all public sector land has increased by 1% since last year.

Figure 8: additional affordable housing delivered on land made available by the public sector, April 2025 to March 2026 [Note 1]

Image

Description of figure 8: a bar chart comparing the number of affordable housing units delivered on local authority land and other public sector land for 2025 to 2026. As well as comparing what was delivered with and without capital grant funding.

Source: Affordable Housing Provision data collection, Welsh Government

Provision of affordable housing on land made available in last 5 years by location and source of land | StatsWales

[Note 1] Other public sector bodies include:

• The Welsh Government
• Welsh Government sponsored bodies
• Other central government departments
• Health authorities
• Police, fire and rescue services/authorities

Further details are provided in the Glossary towards the end of the release.

Figure 8 shows the majority of units delivered on public sector land continued to be delivered with capital grant funding (95%).

The number of units delivered with capital grant funding on local authority land increased on the previous year from 320 units to 379. On other public sector land, the number of units decreased from 266 units to 207 (Figure 8).

Of the 399 units delivered on local authority land in Wales, 41% (162 units) were delivered in Cardiff, followed by 11% in Caerphilly (45 units), Flintshire (44 units) and Rhondda Cynon Taf (42 units). 13 local authorities recorded no units delivered on local authority land.

5 of the 22 local authorities reported additional affordable housing units being delivered on land released by other public sector bodies during 2025 to 2026. Cardiff accounted for 49% of these units, Caerphilly 21%, Swansea 16%, Bridgend 12%, and Blaenau Gwent 2%.

Further details of the other public sector bodies included are provided in the Glossary.

2021 to 2026 government target

The Programme for Government (UK Government Web Archive) was published by the previous government in June 2021 and updated in December 2021. This was published along with the then Minister for Climate Change’s Written Statement on Social Housing in Wales (15 June 2021). These set out a commitment to deliver 20,000 new low carbon homes for rent within the social sector during the 2021 to 2026 government term. This commitment used a different definition to the TAN 2 definition.

To measure progress, we include homes for social rent, intermediate rent and shared ownership. These units are delivered by registered social landlords, local authorities, and private sector providers (referred to as ‘others’). The figures also include housing units leased for more than one year to provide accommodation for homeless families although these do not fully meet the TAN 2 definition.

The reported target figure excludes shared equity affordable housing units.

The target also included some units that were not collected through the annual official statistics return - these were ’void’ social housing units brought back into use through the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP). This information has been collected through management information.

Current government target

On 13 July 2026, the Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning published a Written Statement setting out the scope of the Welsh Government’s target to deliver 20,000 additional social homes by 2030. This commitment was reaffirmed in the Welsh Government Programme for government 2026 to 2030, published 22 September 2026.

The statement noted that the target covers additional housing that will be available for social rent and intermediate rent for both current and future tenants, over the long term.

Shared ownership and shared equity homes are not included in the target because they do not meet the requirement for homes to remain available for social or intermediate rent for current and future tenants.

The target includes qualifying homes delivered through community-led housing projects, as well as newly built homes, and additional stock brought into the social sector through acquisition. Any homes within these tenures that are sold will be deducted when measuring progress against the target. Welsh Government does not currently collect this information but is exploring options for collecting it from local authorities.

Management Information on the current government’s target for additional social homes indicate that between 4,400 and 4,700 homes are expected to be delivered in 2026 to 2027 (of which 1,568 homes were delivered by 30 September 2026). However, Management Information on the sales of homes within the target definition isn’t currently collected and therefore not deducted from this range.

Differences between definitions for current and previous housing targets and TAN 2

Description of table 1: a table showing the different targets, time periods covered and housing tenures included for the current target (1 April 2021 to 30 April 2026), the previous government’s target (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030) and the TAN 2 affordable housing definition.

Management information

Due to the nature of data collection, there is a time lag between the end of the reporting period and the publication of the accredited official statistics. Official statistics on affordable homes delivered in 2026 to 2027 will be published in autumn 2027.

To monitor housing delivery linked to government funded programmes such as the SHG, TACP and RSL Loans scheme, estimates of homes delivered are collected at specific points throughout the year. This information is referred to as management information.

To complement the accredited official statistics and provide more timely insight into housing delivery, this release includes management information on:

• the number of additional social homes expected to be delivered in 2026 to 2027
• the number of additional social homes delivered by 30 September 2026 
• how planned delivery estimates for 2025 to 2026 compared with the number of houses delivered in that year, as recorded in the official statistics

We are exploring how we might make greater use of management information in the future, and whether there is a need to maintain two distinct data collections and sets of figures.

Further information is available in the Quality report.

Coherence with other statistical publications

The data collected and published annually on affordable housing are based on information collected via annual statistical returns. These statistical returns are completed by local authorities, registered social landlords and national park authorities in Wales. It includes provision through new house building as well as the purchase, acquisition, leasing or conversion of existing dwellings. A subset of the affordable housing data will therefore be included in the Welsh Government’s new house building statistics, which are published separately.

However, the new house building statistics are based on the reports of local authority building inspectors and the National House Building Council (NHBC). Information is not collected from other smaller inspectors which is likely to lead to an under-count of the total number of new dwellings. It is sometimes difficult for building control officers who record the data to identify the intended final tenure of the property. This may lead to an under-count of social sector new house building and an over-count for the private sector. As such, there may be some apparent disparity between new build statistics and affordable housing statistics.

Further information can be found in the affordable housing statistics quality report and new house building statistics quality report.

On 6 November 2019, ONS published 2 reports on affordable housing statistics as part of a UK wide programme of work to improve housing and planning statistics:

• Comparing affordable housing in the UK (ONS), an article making cross-UK comparisons of affordable housing statistics.
• Affordable Housing Statistics in the UK (Government Analysis Function), a review of definitions, terminology and the feasibility of harmonising affordable housing statistical definitions.

Additional affordable housing

Affordable housing provided through newbuild or through the purchase, leasing or conversion of existing units on or after 1 April 2007. This therefore excludes existing affordable units that have been renovated or refurbished, as they are not classed as being additional. Where there was a net loss of affordable units over the year, this was recorded as zero. For example, if two self-contained flats in one property were converted into one family home, the number of additional units is zero as there has been a reduction in the number of affordable units.

Affordable housing exception sites

Affordable housing exception sites are small scale housing sites within or adjoining existing settlements for the provision of affordable housing to meet local needs. These would not otherwise be allocated in the development plan. Prior to July 2010 these were known as ‘rural exceptions sites’.

Capital Grants Funding

Capital Grants Funding includes:

• Social Housing Grant (SHG)
• any recycled Social Housing Grant (RCG)
• Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP)
• Housing Finance Grant (HFG) and Housing with Care Fund (HCF)

But excludes those housing units funded from other sources.

Conversions

When one unit is changed into multiple units or multiple units are changed into one. For example, where one family house is converted into shared accommodation for 3 occupants, the number of additional units is 2.

Delivered

Means that the unit is completed and is available for occupation.

Extra care Housing

Offers more support to residents than other retirement housing but allows them to retain more independence than moving to a care home. Residents still live in self-contained flats, but meals may be provided‚ either in the flat or a shared dining room. Residents can have access to on-site care and support tailored to their individual needs.

General needs

Self-contained units that are not reserved for specific client groups. Properties adapted for use for people with disabilities were included here if no additional services or support were provided as part of the terms of occupancy.

Granted planning permission

Refers to final detailed (i.e. not outline) planning permissions granted during the year. Granted Planning Permission will mean that a section 106 agreement has already been signed.

Housing unit

Self-contained dwelling which provides a minimum of one habitable room, with exclusive use of a kitchen, bathroom or shower, sink and toilet.

Note

In shared housing, a unit will relate to the number of bed spaces or bedrooms provided exclusively for use by the occupant or family in the case of hostels or refuges. For example, one house may provide supported accommodation for 3 occupants – each occupant has exclusive use of a bedroom. The residents share lounge, kitchen and bathroom facilities. This was counted as 3 units. Bedrooms used exclusively by staff were not counted.

Housing with Care Fund (HCF)

The Housing with Care Fund is a capital investment programme designed to increase the availability of housing with care and support across Wales. It funds affordable housing and accommodation projects that help people with care and support needs to live independently. The programme supports the delivery of extra care housing, supported housing, intermediate care facilities and other accommodation-based solutions.

Intermediate housing

Where prices or rents are above those of social rented housing but below market housing prices or rents. This can include equity sharing schemes (for example Homebuy) or homes which are let at intermediate rent levels. Intermediate housing differs from low-cost market housing. The Welsh Government does not consider low-cost market housing to be affordable housing for the purpose of the land use planning system.

National park authorities (NPAs)

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) NPA has boundaries in:

• Blaenau Gwent
• Caerphilly
• Carmarthenshire
• Merthyr Tydfil
• Monmouthshire
• Neath Port Talbot
• Powys
• Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Torfaen

Pembrokeshire NPA has boundaries in Pembrokeshire only.

Eryri (Snowdonia) NPA has boundaries in Conwy and Gwynedd.

Other public sector bodies

Additional affordable housing units are delivered on land made available by the local authority and on land formerly owned by the following public sector bodies:

• Welsh Government including Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies
• Other Central Government Departments (including for example former Ministry of Defence sites or Courts sites)
• Welsh Health Estates (covering National Health Service sites formerly owned by Health Authorities, Health Trusts and Ambulance Trusts)
• Police forces and authorities
• Fire and rescue services and authorities

Planned

This refers to any additional affordable housing units which are currently being developed and are scheduled to be delivered during the financial year 2026 to 2027.

Planning obligations (Section 106 agreements)

As part of market housing developments developers are often asked to make a contribution to meeting identified local need for affordable housing. The number of affordable homes to be provided on a particular site will be determined by the local planning authority’s planning policy. This is usually based on a percentage for sites above a certain size. Negotiations with the developer about what is feasible given the economic circumstances and any other site-specific factors will also affect the number of affordable homes provided. The agreed affordable housing contribution will be secured by what is known as a planning obligation (or a section 106 agreement). A planning obligation is a legally binding contract between a developer and a local planning authority that operates alongside a planning permission. The land itself, rather than the person or organisation that develops the land, is bound by a Section 106 Agreement. This is something any future owners will need to take into account.

These arrangements are to overcome obstacles which may otherwise prevent planning permission from being granted. They may also be used to offset negative consequences of development, to help meet local needs or to secure benefits which would make a development more sustainable.

Rent to Own – Wales

Rent to Own - Wales was introduced in February 2018. This scheme offers the opportunity of home ownership to households who can afford the monthly mortgage payments but do not have the level of deposit normally required to purchase a home. Under Rent to Own – Wales, aspiring buyers will pay market rents for new-build homes from participating housing associations. They will also have the option to purchase these from the end of the second year of their rental period.

Upon exercising the option to purchase, the aspiring buyer will be gifted an amount equivalent to 25% of the rent they have paid and 50% of any increase in the value of the home, to use as a mortgage deposit. This will help them to purchase the home that they are renting.

Housing delivered via the Rent to Own – Wales scheme does not fully conform to the TAN2 definition of affordable housing. The number of units delivered under the scheme is not included in the overall total for additional affordable housing shown in this release.

The Rent to Own - Wales scheme closed to new applicants from 31 March 2021.

Section 106 agreements

See ‘Planning obligations’.

Shared equity

This includes:

• units where the registered social landlord provides an equity loan to assist with the purchase of a property (for example, through the Homebuy scheme)
• units where there is any other low-cost home ownership arrangement
• units that are offered under ‘neutral tenure’ principles (where applicants can choose to rent or buy depending on individual circumstances) if the first occupancy is on equity sharing terms

The Shared Ownership – Wales scheme was introduced in February 2018. Prior to this, units where there is shared ownership between the occupant and the RSL (for example part ownership or part rent) may have been included under 'Shared Equity'.

Shared Ownership – Wales

Shared Ownership - Wales is a part-buy, part-rent scheme introduced in February 2018. It is aimed at aspiring buyers who have some deposit but are unable to obtain the level of mortgage to purchase the home outright. Aspiring buyers can purchase an initial share of 25% to 75% of the value of new-build homes. Shares are available for this scheme from participating housing associations.

They can staircase up to full ownership at any time. Rent will be payable on the un-owned share. The affordable housing units delivered under this scheme do conform to the TAN 2 definition of affordable housing. The numbers delivered have been included in the overall total for additional affordable housing provision shown in this release.

Sheltered housing

Designed specifically for older people, commonly built in developments of about 20 to 40 self-contained flats or bungalows. There is almost always an alarm system linked to a 24-hour communication centre which can summon help in an emergency.

Social Housing Grant (SHG)

Social Housing Grant is the main capital grant programme given by Welsh Government to deliver additional affordable homes. The grant can be used to fund the building of new general needs, extra care and supported housing, as well as the acquisition of existing homes. Homes can be for Social Rent, Intermediate Rent or Shared Ownership.

Social rented housing

Social rented housing is provided by local authorities and Welsh RSLs where rent levels are below market rents. They are set within the framework of the Welsh Government Rent and Service Charge Standard.

Stair-casing

Stair-casing is when the owner of a Shared Ownership – Wales property exercises their legal right to acquire additional shares (equity) in their property.

Supported housing

There are many different types of supported accommodation to meet the needs of a wide range of people. Residents may have extra needs due to disability, their age or other reasons. The accommodation may have been specially adapted or designed to meet particular physical needs or it may provide extra support with wardens or other staff to help residents live independently.

Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP)

The Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme is funding provided by Welsh Government to provide additional affordable homes quickly in response to homelessness and temporary accommodation pressures. The funding can be used to:

• acquire existing homes
• convert non-domestic properties into homes
• provide modular accommodation on meanwhile sites
• refurbish voids

Homes provided by the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme are mainly social rent.

Voids

A ‘void’ property refers to a dwelling owned by a local authority or registered social landlord that is currently unoccupied and not available for letting. A void can occur for various reasons such as the property being between tenancies. For example, awaiting necessary repairs, maintenance, or refurbishment, or properties pending sale or demolition.

The voids programme under TACP is intended to address strategic longer-term voids and does not fund standard re-lets. TACP funding is used to bring back into use properties that are financially unviable or under consideration for sale, preventing the loss of affordable homes.

Detailed information on data quality and methodology can be found in the Affordable housing provision quality report.

Official statistics status

All official statistics should show the standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics (UK Statistics Authority).

With the exception of the stated management information, these are accredited official statistics. They were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

It is Welsh Government’s responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected of accreditation. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with OSR promptly. Accreditation can be cancelled or suspended at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.

Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

Our statistical practice is regulated by the OSR. OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. All producers of official statistics should adhere to the Code of Practice for Statistics.

All our statistics are produced and published in accordance with a number of statements and protocols to enhance trustworthiness, quality and value. These are set out in the Welsh Government’s Statement of Compliance.

These official statistics demonstrate the standards expected around trustworthiness, quality and public value in the following ways.

Trustworthiness

The data is collected directly from local authorities, RSLs and other providers that have delivered affordable housing in Wales.

Quality

The published figures provided are compiled by professional analysts using the latest available data. Analysts apply methods using their professional judgement and analytical skillset. Statistics published by Welsh Government adhere to the Statistical Quality Management Strategy which supplements the Quality pillar of the Code of Practice for Statistics (UK Statistics Authority) and the European Statistical System principles of quality for statistical outputs.

Data is collected by Welsh Government directly from local authorities, RSLs and other housing providers. They complete data collection forms based on data stored on their respective IT systems. Then they return the completed forms to Welsh Government via its secure web data transfer system.

Validation checks are performed by Welsh Government statisticians and queries referred to local authorities where necessary. The statistical release is then drafted, signed off by senior statisticians and published in line with the statement on confidentiality and data access which is informed by the trustworthiness pillar contained in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Value

The purpose of the statistical release is to provide evidence for policy development and is used in informing Ministerial advice and decision making in the wider policy context. Furthermore, it provides the wider public with information about social housing stock and how many additional units are being delivered and planned within the next financial year.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFG)

The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven wellbeing goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators (“national indicators”) that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the wellbeing goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before Senedd Cymru. Under section 10(8) of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, where the Welsh Ministers revise the national indicators, they must as soon as reasonably practicable (a) publish the indicators as revised and (b) lay a copy of them before the Senedd. These national indicators were laid before the Senedd in 2021. The indicators laid on 14 December 2021 replace the set laid on 16 March 2016.

Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the wellbeing goals and associated technical information is available in the Wellbeing of Wales report.

Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The statistics included in this release could also provide supporting narrative to the national indicators and be used by public services boards in relation to their local wellbeing assessments and local wellbeing plans.

Housing Statistics
Email: stats.housing@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099

SFR 85/2026

Image