£98 million to boost social homes in Wales

Welsh cabinet secretary for housing and local government, Jayne Bryant, has announced funding for the next round of the Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP), bringing the total investment since 2020 to more than £466 million.

The programme provides funds for improvements including insulation, efficient heating systems and renewable energy installations in social housing.

So far, it has funded more than 31,000 energy efficiency upgrades to social homes across Wales, including insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.

Bryant made the announcement during a visit to Tŷ Gwyrddfai Decarbonisation Hub in North Wales, where she met apprentices training for careers in the housing decarbonisation sector. 

She also toured Trem yr Wyddfa, where 51 properties are receiving energy efficiency improvements including external wall insulation, new windows and doors, and environmental monitoring systems. This project has been funded with £579,000 from ORP.

Bryant said: "This Government is determined to ensure our social housing sector offers safe, comfortable, healthy and low carbon homes to its tenants.

"This latest investment will enable social landlords to continue making vital improvements to homes across Wales, cutting household bills whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It was great to meet two of the residents and hear what a difference this work has made to their homes.

"The Optimised Retrofit Programme does more than improve housing quality and reduce our carbon footprint - it creates local job opportunities, strengthens low-carbon supply chains, and builds the skills we need for the green economy.

"Meeting the apprentices at Tŷ Gwyrddfai demonstrated the real career opportunities this sector offers communities across North Wales. My dad was a plasterer and tiler, so I have great respect for these skills, which are in high demand. These are good jobs, close to home, making a real difference."