Gwynedd Council has received an application for 18 affordable homes in Botwnnog in Gwynedd, with the proposal that they be reserved for Welsh speakers only. The community council in Botwnnog has expressed their desire for the homes to be allocated to those who can speak Welsh, citing concerns over the impact on the area’s heritage and the potential dilution of Welsh language presence if non-Welsh speakers were to occupy the homes.
The community council highlighted the issue of second homes and short-term accommodation drawing non-Welsh speakers to the area, leading to a decline in the percentage of Welsh speakers in nearby communities. They stressed the importance of ensuring the homes are accessible to Welsh speakers to maintain the linguistic heritage of the region.
In response, the applicants stated that occupiers of the affordable homes are likely to be local people, reassuring that their language characteristics would align with the Welsh-speaking population. The definition of ‘local’ was questioned by the community council, emphasizing the need to limit occupancy to Welsh speakers to preserve the community’s linguistic identity.
The matter is scheduled to be discussed at the council’s planning meeting, where the proposal includes a mix of two and three-bedroom bungalows for social rent and intermediate rent options. The application seeks to promote Welsh language continuity by prioritising Welsh speakers as occupants of the affordable housing development.