Climate, homelessness, and the rising cost of living were the main topics of conversation at this year’s CIH Cymru TAI conference, which took place earlier this week.
Housing professionals from Wales and beyond descended on Swansea for the first first in-person TAI conference in three years, with Emma Williams, the Welsh government’s director of Housing and Regeneration, setting the tone during her opening address.
Williams spoke of homelessness and the 19,000 people she said the Welsh government had supported into temporary accommodation since the start of the pandemic; and of decarbonisation and the government’s mission to deliver 20,000 low-carbon homes for rent.
“Wales will be at the forefront of a new green revolution,” she said.
Cost of living
However, Williams also spoke of the challenges around these issues, saying a “tough couple of years” lies ahead.
She added that there would be increased challenges for individuals and organisations alike due to issues such as inflation, the rising cost of living, and the Ukraine crisis.
“Local government is incredibly stretched, and resources are thin,” she said.
Clare Budden, CEO of North-Wales-based housing provider ClwydAlyn, echoed Williams’ sentiment, warning of “significant impacts” of cost-of-living pressures.
In terms of the wider uncertainty within the housing sector in Wales, she said: “I don’t think it’s ever felt the same as it feels now.”
Climate
Decarbonisation was a key talking point in many conference sessions, with delegates and speakers diving deep into the government’s housing-related climate ambitions – including the decarbonisation of the 1.4m homes that currently exist in Wales.
Sandy Clubb, involvement artist for the Future Generations Commissioner’s Office Wales, said the “call to action on climate has never been stronger”.
Andy Regan, mission manager for innovation foundation Nesta Cymru, agreed, saying: “Urgent action on decarbonisation is so important.”
Interestingly, Regan argued that a ‘fabric-first’ approach to retrofit – another big talking point of the wider conference – may not be “the best thing”.
He said: “If your focus is on decarbonisation, the best thing you can do is look at heating.”
He explained that low-carbon heat lowers the carbon output of homes more quickly and cheaply than insulation.
Regan clarified that insulation and heating are both important aspects of retrofit, and both should be considered; but that a ‘heating-first’ approach utilising technology such as heat pumps would have a quicker, more noticeable effect on decarbonisation.
Elsewhere, discussion turned to the issue of skills and the need to develop a ‘net-zero workforce’ – which is widely considered to be incommensurate with Wales’ decarbonisation ambitions.
Domestic abuse
The conference ended with a powerful talk from ITV Wales’ Ruth Dodsworth, who recounted her widely publicised ordeal with domestic abuse.
The weather presenter spoke of the abuse she was subjected to by her former partner over a 20-year period, and of the different forms that abuse took – from financial, emotional, and physical.
She reminded attendees that one in three women experience domestic abuse – and one in six men.
Image: Swansea Marina. Credit: Red Media
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