Work has started on a £10m development, which will provide 41 energy-efficient and affordable family homes for local people in Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd.
The scheme, at the Canol Cae site in the centre of the town, is a collaboration between two leading housing associations in north Wales, ClwydAlyn and Grŵp Cynefin, in partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd as part of Gwynedd’s Affordable Housing Development Programme.
The scheme is funded by the Welsh Government through Cyngor Gwynedd’s Social Housing Grant which aims to achieve Cyngor Gwynedd’s target of building 700 social houses across the county by 2026/27.
The homes are being built by Williams Homes (Bala) who are already making good progress on site.
The development will provide a mixture of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, a three-bedroom and four-bedroom specialist bungalow and one-bedroom apartments. The range of homes on offer are the result of wide consultation with the local community by the Rural Housing Enablers, to determine local housing needs. The new homes will be super energy-efficient, built using greener technologies and innovative designs.
The houses will be completed by the end of 2025 and will be allocated through Cyngor Gwynedd’s Common Housing Register and Tai Teg.
“It’s fantastic to see that the site is a hive of activity, with Williams Homes making great progress,” said Arwyn Evans, Grŵp Cynefin’s Head of Development. “The development is a big step towards providing the local community with high-quality, affordable homes and is the result of working together with our partners ClwydAlyn, Cyngor Gwynedd and the Welsh Government.
“The work of the Rural Housing Enablers has been crucial, working closely with the local Penrhyndeudraeth community, to make sure we are building the right combination of homes needed by local people. Providing quality homes to improve lives and sustain our rural communities are all key aims of Grŵp Cynefin, and this development is a perfect example of how we are achieving this.”
Craig Sparrow, Executive Director of Development for ClwydAlyn commented: “This is an exciting first new scheme in Gwynedd, which will provide high quality, energy-efficient, affordable homes and will address a key need for housing in the local area. Our mission is to beat poverty and ensure that everyone in north Wales has access to excellent quality housing. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Grŵp Cynefin, Cyngor Gwynedd and the Welsh Government on this scheme to meet local demand as well as boosting local employment.”
Councillor Craig ab Iago, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Housing and Property said: “Providing more homes for local people is of the highest priority for Cyngor Gwynedd, and I welcome the fantastic news that work has kicked off on this housing development in Penrhyndeudraeth. The Council is actively working with housing associations to build more high quality and affordable homes for the people of Gwynedd, demonstrating a joint commitment to tackling the ongoing housing crisis in our county.
“It’s also encouraging to see that energy-efficiency is a key element of the design of these houses, especially in light of the continuing cost-of-living crisis.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact these homes will have on the community. These are not just new houses, they are a brighter future for so many individuals and families in the area currently struggling to find long term and affordable homes in their own communities.”
All homes are built as lifetime homes and designed so that they are easily adaptable to the changing needs of the residents, helping them to live independently for longer.
Owain Williams, Joint Managing Director Williams Homes, added: “We are very proud to be building innovative, low carbon homes in the heart of Penrhyndeudraeth, supporting local jobs and building homes for the local community.”
These new homes will meet and exceed the current regulatory standards: Welsh Government Housing Quality Standard, Welsh Government Development Quality Requirements and Welsh Government Beautiful Homes and Spaces Standards.
Built using greener technologies and innovative designs, these new homes are super energy-efficient and benefit from:
- Air source heat pumps
- Solar electricity panels
- Homes positioned to maximise solar gain and natural daylight
- ‘Modern Methods of Construction’, using as many natural and sustainable materials as possible
- Sourcing materials from local manufacturers and suppliers, keeping carbon footprint low.
