Expert design work starts on new council homes

Specialist design work for the first new Swansea Council homes in a generation has now started.

High energy efficiency standards and employment opportunities for local people are at the heart of ambitious plans for pilot schemes in Penderry and Llansamlet which will pave the way for the construction of many more affordable homes in Swansea in years to come.

The plans for the Penderry scheme include a mix of new apartments and family houses on Milford Way, while the plans for the Llansamlet scheme at Parc y Helig include several one and two-bedroom apartments.

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

Building work, it’s anticipated, will start on site later this year.

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, said: “As a council, we haven’t been able to build new houses in Swansea since the 1980s because of UK Government restrictions, but recent changes mean we now can.

“This is a major step forward for the city. Not only will our plans meet Swansea’s need for affordable housing, but they’ll also create construction job opportunities for local people, equipping them with skills that can be transferred to other projects both in Swansea and further afield.

“These plans will contribute to the regeneration of communities as a whole and help tackle fuel poverty by focussing on the inclusion of high energy efficiency technology, which will reduce the costs of heating for the residents that will live in them. The properties will also be designed to Lifetime Homes Standards, to ensure they meet current and future needs of residents.

“Our 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.”

Ecological survey and ground investigation works are also now also taking place at both sites. Planning applications will be submitted once these works and detailed design has been completed.