Building more affordable housing in rural areas will be a key plank of the Welsh Conservative manifesto for next year's assembly elections.

Mark Isherwood, Tory social justice spokesman in the assembly, said the issue was a priority for enabling the regeneration of Welsh communities.

"Good housing ought to be at the heart of community regeneration - and an adequate supply of affordable housing is key to creating sustainable communities," he said.

"The lack of affordable housing impacts on the ability of existing businesses and the ability to attract new businesses.

"The Welsh Conservatives believe that affordable housing, rented, part-purchased or purchased, is one of the core vehicles for sustainable economic and social regeneration."

He said that "affordable housing must be at the heart of our communities".

Isherwood said providing affordable housing in rural areas "would be a core element of the Welsh Conservative Party's housing strategy when in government".

He noted that while 17,400 new affordable houses were built in Wales during the last six years of Conservative government, just 4,400 were built in the first six years of devolution.

"Welsh Conservatives will seek return investment to the high levels achieved under Conservative governments up to 1997," he said.