FINANCE Minister Jane Hutt has praised two local housing developments that are helping ease the pressure on families affected by the recent ‘bedroom tax’.

The minister visited sites in Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock last Tuesday (September 2) to see how Welsh Government investment in social housing has been used to provide more one and two-bedroom homes.

Peregrine Close, a 35-unit housing scheme in Haverfordwest, has been developed by Pembrokeshire Housing Association thanks to £1.2m in Social Housing Grant (SHG) funding.

Costing £3.8m in total, construction began in August 2011 and was completed last month.

It comprises 20 one and two-bedroom flats, 14 two and three-bedroom houses and one five-bedroom wheelchair accessible bungalow.

Eighteen-year-old Greg Walters, from Haverfordwest, was one of three apprentices involved in the build.

Working with main contractors W.B Griffiths and Son, Greg said it had been a great opportunity to see how all the trades come together and see a build through from start to finish.

Seven jobs were also created during construction, and six people from the local housing estate were also employed in both skilled and unskilled positions.

The minister also visited River View, Stranraer Road, a 16-unit housing scheme in Pennar, Pembroke Dock, which was completed in May.

The Welsh Government provided £706,000 funding from the SHG towards the scheme, which totalled £1.6m.

With both sites, Pembrokeshire Housing Association has agreed with the county council that, when letting smaller properties, priority should be given to those affected by the bedroom tax.

So far, eight homes across the two sites have already gone to families adversely affected.

Speaking during her visit, the minister said: “I’m really pleased to be in Pembrokeshire today to see for myself how our investment in social housing is both boosting the local economy and making a real difference to families that have been adversely affected by the UK Government’s Bedroom Tax.

“We are determined to do all that we can to help mitigate against the UK Government Welfare Reforms. That’s why we’ve allocated £20 million to provide much needed one and two bedroom homes across Wales.”