Wales Policy

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  4. Wales Policy

Planning policy in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government. HBF frequently engages with the Welsh Government and Members of the Senedd (MSs) on the key challenges facing the home building industry in Wales.

Current issues of concern to the home building industry in Wales include slow progress in updating Local Development Plans (LDPs), development viability, and broader market conditions such as rising material costs and limited mortgage availability.

This webpage outlines HBF's research relating to the home building industry in Wales, and provides links to resources for our Welsh members.

Key Messages in Wales: Member resources

For our Welsh members, HBF has issued the following documents designed to support policy and public affairs activity:

  • Home Building by Numbers: A short slide desk containing key statistics demonstrating the industry’s contribution and impact in Wales with regards to housing supply, economic activity, planning permissions, energy efficiency and other areas.
  • Key Messages: A longer and more detailed document outlining the background to a number of policy issues in Wales and HBF's key messages.

These documents will be updated and reissued on a regular basis.

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Wales Parliamentary Newsletter

A Parliamentary Newsletter is sent regularly to Members of the Senedd (MSs). The newsletter includes information on industry activity, the challenges facing the sector, and HBF’s policy and campaigns work.

Click 'more' below to view the latest Wales Parliamentary Newsletter.

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Wales Social Media Updates

For more frequent updates on housing matters in Wales, follow our @HBFWales X account (formerly twitter).

HBF Wales Twitter

Workforce Census

A census of the home building industry’s onsite workforce in Wales reveals the breakdown of the workforce by age, gender, nationality, and ethnicity.

The census, conducted by HBF, finds that 95.62% of the workforce are UK/British passport holders, and just 2.86% were from EU/EEA countries. This is a stark contrast to the data from the UK as a whole, where overseas workers account for around 20% of the workforce.

Wales Census

Wales Census

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Help to Buy Wales

Help to Buy Wales continues to operate, with the current phase running from April 2023 until March 2025. This latest phase also included an increase in the price cap from £250K to £300K. The Welsh Government are currently reviewing the success of the scheme and considering future options.

Since its launch in January 2014, Help to Buy Wales has helped over 14,000 households buy new build homes, of which over 75% were first time buyers.

HBF has welcomed the decision by the Welsh Government to extend the scheme, which is an important part of the Welsh Government’s wider strategy to improve the Welsh housing market and promote economic growth.

Help to Buy Wales report

Publications and reports