New council house scheme construction could start by end of 2016

Construction of Swansea’s first new council houses in a generation could start towards the end of 2016.

Pilot schemes at Milford Way in Penderry and Parc y Helig in Llansamlet will help inform Swansea Council’s longer-term strategy for providing additional council housing in the city.

A small number of homes will be built to high energy standards to ensure energy bills are as low as possible. The Council is also exploring the possibility of constructing ‘energy positive’ homes which will provide electricity for use by the occupants.

The works will be funded by revenue from council rents and not from council tax.

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, said: “We haven’t been able to build new council houses in Swansea since the 1980s because of UK Government restrictions, but recent changes mean we now can. This is a major step forward because there’s significant demand for good quality, affordable homes to rent and we’re determined to meet the needs of residents and communities as a whole.

“The construction of new, low-energy council homes would help us meet the aspirations of local people, tackle poverty and build sustainable communities.

“This pioneering pilot scheme will only see a small number of new homes initially built, but it will help inform our longer-term strategy for providing additional council housing by allowing us to explore issues like specification options, financial viability and affordability for tenants.

“A lot of work has already taken place to identify suitable locations, but more progress over coming months could see construction starting towards the end of 2016.”

Further ecological survey and ground investigation works will now take place at both sites before design works and the submission of planning applications.