Anglesey becomes latest Welsh council to apply to suspend Right to Buy

Isle of Anglesey County Council has become the latest local authority in Wales to apply for a suspension of the Right to Buy.

The move was backed by the local authority’s Executive this week (14 March) as part of plans to start building new council houses.

Anglesey’s Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2016 – 2046 has already seen the local authority – as one of 11 Welsh authorities which still retain their housing stock – buy its debt from the HM Treasury and transfer it to the Public Wales Loan Board (PWLB), thereby becoming self-financing.

Anglesey expects this year to invest more than £2m in building new council housing. Fifteen units will be built, with sites being considered in Pentraeth, Llanfaethlu, Valley and Holyhead.

The new build programme envisages increasing the council’s housing stock by at least 500 properties over the next 30 years. The council currently owns and manages more than 3,800 properties on the island.

The suspension of the Right to Buy, if approved, would be for five years.

Cllr Aled Morris Jones, Housing portfolio holder at Anglesey, said: “There are certainly exciting times ahead in terms of housing on Anglesey. These are ambitious plans for increasing the council’s housing stock and creating more affordable housing for Anglesey residents. The new build programme will provide significant flexibility in terms of increasing housing stock, allowing increased investment in existing homes and helping to regenerate our communities.”

Cllr Morris Jones added: “With housing matters in Wales devolved, the Welsh Government is offering local authorities the opportunity to submit a voluntary application to suspend tenants’ right to buy for a period of five years. Applications from Carmarthenshire and Swansea Councils have already been approved.”

“Our aim is to increase the number of affordable rented properties on the Island and we now hope that our application will be successful. A suspension would certainly help us meet the growing demand for affordable rented housing and bolster our housing stock on Anglesey.”