The April issue of WHQ will be with readers soon but here’s a sneak preview of what to look out for.
We’ll be looking back to a big day for Welsh housing and forward to an even bigger one for Welsh politics as we report on the Homes for Wales march and rally and the Welsh Assembly elections. And we preview the big event for housing in between: TAI 2016.
Homes for Wales saw a great turnout as it took its call for an ambitious plan for housing and a stronger Wales directly to the streets of Cardiff. The six main parties set out their stall with their answer to the question ‘how would your party solve the housing crisis in Wales’.
Staying with the election, Steve Clarke of Welsh Tenants calls for a bolder programme for housing, Robin Staines of Housing Leadership Cymru has an alternative manifesto that will not cost a penny and Oliver Townsend of Cymorth Cymru looks forward to potential election outcomes.
TAI 2016 takes place at the SWALEC stadium the week after next (April 26 to 28) with a wealth of different speakers and sessions to look forward to. Our special preview section features:
- Mike Owen and Gareth Swarbrick setting out the co-operative alternative
- Serena Jones explaining how data sharing helps Coastal proactively support its tenants
- Lisa McKenzie giving a voice to the residents of a stigmatised Nottingham estate tell their own story
- Kellie Beirne explaining the thinking behind the City Deal for Cardiff City Region.
Elsewhere, Rebecca Jackson and Peter Mackie take the long view on homelessness in a piece reflecting on a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of both Shelter and the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University. Look out too for some extraordinary photographs from an accompanying exhibition of Andrew McNeill’s study of global homelessness.
Meanwhile Victoria Winckler looks at some of the issues on housing benefit raised in the Bevan Foundation’s investigation of the future of the welfare system in Wales
Helen White, chair of the newly- appointed independent Regulatory Board for Wales, says the sector has a real opportunity to think differently about the contribution that regulation can make in delivering better value to tenants and communities.
Look out too for articles on the need for better housing data and the complexities of working housing projections into Local Development Plans, on what Scotland and Wales can learn from each other on digital inclusion and on Carmarthenshire’s ambitious plans for affordable homes.
All of that and much more are to be found in in this issue of WHQ, including all our regular features. To reserve your copy and for more information about subscribing, go here.