More than £225 million is set to be invested in new and existing council homes in Powys over the next five years, the county council has announced.

The plans, approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, March 25, form part of the council’s latest housing business plan, ‘At Home in Powys’.

The programme includes more than £151m to build over 430 new council homes by 2029-30.

In addition to this, £43m will be invested in upgrading existing properties to ensure they continue to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, which sets out requirements for good-quality, well-maintained homes.

A further £10.5m will be spent ensuring all council homes and assets comply with relevant legislation and regulations under the Compliance One Hundred scheme. The Green Powys programme will see £10m invested to improve fuel efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, lower carbon emissions, and support greener council estates. More than £4.1m will go towards the Fit for Life initiative, which aims to adapt homes for older residents and those with mobility-related health needs. The Love Where You Live scheme will receive £6.9m to enhance the wellbeing of communities through improvements to council housing and estates.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “This ambitious plan will get the council building high-quality council homes to help us tackle the housing emergency.

“The Homes in Powys – Housing Business Plan puts in place the money needed to make our homes more energy efficient for our tenants – tackling fuel poverty and ensuring council homes are doing their bit to tackle climate change.

“The plan also pledges continued investment in our existing council homes to make sure that we continue to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

“This plan will help build a stronger, fairer, greener future for Powys.”