A new report calls for urgent policy interventions to address the housing crisis in Welsh-speaking communities.
The Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities launched a set of comprehensive proposals to strengthen the language in the report published at the National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd this week.
The designation of ‘areas of higher density linguistic significance’ is central to the proposals to protect and strengthen Welsh as a thriving community language.
The Commission makes 57 recommendations in several key policy areas, including:
- Designating ‘areas of higher density linguistic significance’ to recognise communities where there is a high percentage of Welsh speakers, and to ensure greater consideration for Welsh in policy developments, the ability to vary policy, and to support the effective use of Welsh at community level. The Commission recommends two ways of designating these areas, namely that the Government designates areas where over 40 per cent of the population speaks Welsh, and also gives local authorities the discretion to designate specific areas where appropriate;
- Addressing the housing crisis within Welsh-speaking communities, advocating housing developments based on local needs and community-led housing initiatives. There is also a call to set up a low-interest loan fund or equity scheme to assist community groups to purchase land or property.
- Supporting models of community development that promote community initiatives and shared ownership.
- Developing language planning strategies for communities facing a language shift.
Other recommendations address issues affecting Welsh language communities, including community development, workplaces, the economy, education and equality. The report also includes a detailed analysis of the results of the 2021 Census.
The Commission was established by the Welsh Government in summer 2022 to respond to the declining percentage of Welsh speakers in communities where the majority of the population speaks the language, or where this has been the case until relatively recently.
Commission chair Dr Simon Brooks said: ‘It is a privilege to present the report to the Government, which is the culmination of two years of work developing policy proposals in relation to the future of Welsh-speaking communities. To ensure that Welsh is a national language that belongs to us all, its future as a community language must be secured. The Commission’s recommendations aim to do just that. By working together, we can ensure a vibrant and prosperous future for Welsh-speaking communities across the country.
First Minister, Eluned Morgan, said: ‘Establishing the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities was a vital step in our commitment to strengthening the Welsh language in its heartlands. I want to thank the Commission for its work and dedication. We will now carefully consider the findings and recommendations before responding to the report.’
The Welsh Government also announced the Commission’s second phase, which is to look at the position of the Welsh language within other communities in Wales and beyond.
The second phase will also be chaired by Dr Simon Brooks, and the final report will be published in summer 2026.