A new report has highlighted how Pobl Group is still delivering a significant programme of new affordable homes despite all the competing challenges facing housing associations.
Influential trade publication Inside Housing’s annual Top 50 Biggest Builders development survey of how many homes housing associations in the UK are building highlights that the Group completed 362 homes across all tenures during the period, placing Pobl at 42nd on the list, the only Welsh association included in the top 50.
Pobl has also been working with Welsh Government and local authorities to address the many obstacles affecting the building of new homes. The focus on acquiring good development sites which blend well into communities across much of South Wales means that Pobl will complete well over 1,000 homes over the next 2 years.
Of the homes completed by Pobl during 2022-23:
- 220 were for social rent
- 19 were for intermediate rent
- 71 were for low-cost home ownership (mainly shared ownership)
- And 52 were for open market sale
The total of 220 homes completed for social rent was the 15th highest figure across all associations in the UK.
In total, the Group made an investment of £69,800,000 in the creation of much needed new homes (including total government grant of £26,700,000).
The pipeline of new homes includes 160 on the former University campus at Beacon Hill, Swansea, 144 low carbon homes overlooking the Loughor Estuary at Gwynfaen and 124 new homes at Chartist Garden Village, an attractive development on the former council offices site in Pontllanfraith
Neil Barber, Executive Director – Property & Investment at Pobl Group, said:
“At Pobl we are absolutely committed to delivering the quality, sustainable and affordable housing that Wales needs more than ever. We are creating mixed tenure communities where people want to live and giving more people somewhere they are proud to call home. We are also investing more than ever in improving our existing homes with a particular focus on measures which will help our customers to better afford to heat their homes.
“It’s been another tough year with the cost-of-living crisis impacting on each and every one of our lives, and the role of organisations like Pobl is more important than ever, We continue to receive strong support from Welsh Government, which we are extremely thankful for, and their foresight is helping the sector address the significant ongoing challenges facing the supply chain. Welsh Government and our local authority partners share our commitment to affordable housing and their support will assist us in delivering over 1000 new homes in Wales over the next two years.”
A not-for-profit organisation with half a century of creating affordable homes for Wales, Pobl manages more than 18,000 homes, employing over 2,000 people.
