According to the Trefor and Llanaelhaearn community council, it would back plans for 15 affordable homes on the North Wales coast if they were reserved for people who can speak Welsh. The community council described the proposal as a 'golden opportunity to be truly progressive and innovative' by being the first planning authority in Wales to impose a language condition on a new social housing estate. " The deputy Welsh language commissioner, Osian Llywelyn, stressed that while a language condition is not unlawful, it cannot override need, such as prioritizing homeless applicants.
Wales is actively working to increase the number of Welsh speakers through the Cymraeg 2050 strategy, which aims to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050. However, Reform Wales argued that homes should be for all Welsh people, regardless of whether they speak Welsh or English. Malcolm Evans, a Welsh speaker among Trefor's 1,000 residents, thought the idea would be popular but could be divisive.
I think it will be unfair on some people.
"I think it will be unfair on some people," Evans said. The plan is not unlawful, according to a legal opinion received by the Welsh language commissioner. How the language condition will be enforced or verified for applicants remains unclear.
The current status of the planning approval process for the 15 affordable homes is also unknown.
We understand that the Welsh language commissioner has received a legal opinion, which states unequivocally that it would not be illegal to make 'able to speak Welsh' a condition for the letting of social housing.