Every time I see young people struggling to get a foothold in the housing market I remember the thousands of political statements about how there will be more affordable homes – it hardly ever happens!

OK there are some "affordable" houses on the market but they're built to a standard which makes them expensive to live in. There's a massive challenge to our builders, especially the big ones, to build houses that don't waste energy.

The massive price increases in gas and electricity are, it seems, here to stay. So our houses need to cost less to run. In Canada and Scandinavian countries, houses cost less to run despite very harsh winters. I hope builders will pick up on this challenge and build affordable homes that are also affordable to live in!

It would be great to see a local company building just that so our young folks can stay in their home communities living independently. Even better if the houses are built from local timber! We have plenty of wood available locally.

While building standards are important, obtaining the land is the first step in building affordable homes.

I have always believed that communities should own the land, just like the Land for People organisation is assisting communities in Ceinws and Castle Caereinion to do. Community ownership may not be the answer for large projects, but for our small rural communities a few affordable houses can make a massive difference to families.

If the community retains a share in the land it ensures that the houses remain available to local people.

Why should young people have to leave their community just to find a place to live? The right of a community to buy land already exists in Scotland. I would like to see the same right here in Wales.

I believe if communities had the right to buy land then there would be more community facilities. We often hear about the lack of facilities for young people, only if communities control the development, will there be sufficient.

This is especially true in towns, even in Newtown, one of our largest estates does not have a community centre.

Recently Rhodri Morgan announced new Welsh legislation, one of the measures will help provide decent affordable homes by suspending right to buy. This is a step in the right direction, next time let's hope the community right to buy at the top of the list! Only by empowering communities will our community spirit grow and with better facilities for all build a better quality of life.