A small social housing development in Bridgend has won a top national award for innovation.
Ffordd Yr Eglwys, delivered by Valleys to Coast housing association, won the ‘delivering innovation’ category at the recent Ystadau Cymru awards run by Welsh Government.
The four home development in North Cornelly was the first to be built by a social housing developer using a modular construction method, with structural insulated panels manufactured off-site.
They are innovative not only in construction, but in design – offering one-bedroom accommodation set over a traditional two-storey house style.
The scheme was delivered as part of the Rapid Rehousing Protocol during the Covid pandemic which accelerated the need for good quality affordable housing for people moving on from temporary accommodation.
The homes – delivered by Valleys to Coast in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council and funded by the Welsh Government’s homelessness grant – took just 12 months from planning approval to being ready for handover.
They were designed by Cardiff-based firm Pentan Architects and the modular components provided by Pontyclun-based First Start Homes.
The first social housing development of its kind in Wales, an archetype is now available to other social housing developers in the hope that the scheme can be replicated at speed in other areas.
The Welsh Government’s annual Ystadau Cymru Awards are a celebration of successful collaborative asset management across the Welsh public sector.
Chief Executive of Valleys to Coast, Joanne Oak, said: “We are thrilled to win the delivering innovation award for our Ffordd Yr Eglwys development. We are proud to be leading the way for Wales in developing new social housing of this type and hope that we see more of these modular homes being built to help address local housing needs in other areas.
“As proud as we are of this development, for us the primary concern was delivering good quality affordable homes for local people unfortunate to find themselves homeless.
“We very quickly moved to deliver Ffordd Yr Eglwys after conversations with Bridgend County Borough Council and Welsh Government during the height of the pandemic.
“I’m grateful for this partnership, but also the opportunity of working with great Welsh companies to deliver innovative solutions to address local housing need.
“I’d like to thank the Valleys to Coast team for delivering this award-winning development and leading the way for future housing in Wales.”
Ffordd Yr Eglwys is just one of several new home development projects being delivered by Valleys to Coast as part of its 10-year corporate plan.
Ten new flats in Maesteg Road, and a development of four flats and six houses in Woodland Avenue have just been completed.
Local families will be spending their first Christmas in their new homes completed at Cefn Cribwr over the summer, and phase one of the association’s latest development in Brocastle is due for completion in the new year, with a further 56 homes planned for completion before the end of 2023.
Valleys to Coast now provides over 6,000 affordable homes across Bridgend, alongside a portfolio of commercial properties, garages and leasehold flats.
