An exciting new partnership between Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Council is focusing on building high quality, sustainable affordable homes at pace across the region.
At a time of unprecedented housing pressures, the two authorities are taking a collaborative approach to dealing with the demand by teaming up to explore cross border opportunities that will deliver around 2,500 new homes for the area over the next 10 years.
The partnership – Cardiff’s second housing programme following the success of its Cardiff Living scheme with Wates Group, is now seeking a development partner that shares the two authorities’ commitment and vision to creating exemplary homes and communities.
The £500m programme will focus on building new affordable homes for rent and sale at pace across 16 Cardiff sites and eight Vale of Glamorgan sites, investing in existing communities and delivering a large package of social value. Included in the programme is the development of 500 new homes on the former Gasworks site at Ferry Road, Grangetown; 400 new homes at Atlantic Wharf and more than 130 homes on the former Pencoedtre High School Playing Fields; 130 homes across two sites at the Western Gateway and Colcot Road in Barry.
Flexibility in the structure of the programme will enable new sites to be added as necessary.
A key aim of the programme is not only to increase the supply of affordable homes but, like Cardiff Living, that will have created 1,700 new homes for the city by the end of its 10 year lifespan, to improve the quality of homes in both authorities, by delivering low carbon energy efficient homes in order to tackle high energy bills and fuel poverty. This is in line with Cardiff’s One Planet Cardiff ambition for a carbon neutral city by 2030 and ‘Project Zero’, the Vale’s Climate Challenge Plan.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “Never has there been such a demand for affordable homes and because of the current pressures, we need to find new ways to deliver homes more quickly, be more innovative in our approach and more flexible to enable us to adapt effectively to changing housing needs.
“The partner we’re looking for will do more than just build houses – we’re looking for a developer who will go that extra mile to create long lasting legacies by delivering community benefits and supporting jobs.
“Our vision is for all the properties to meet exceptional levels of design, sustainability and energy efficiency and innovation is essential.”
Cllr Sandra Perkes, Cabinet Member for Public Sector Housing and Tenant Engagement, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan is not unique in facing an acute shortage of affordable and social housing. What does set us apart is the scale of our ambition in responding to this.
“One of our priorities as a Council is to increase the supply of good quality, accessible and affordable housing by working in partnership to address housing need. We want to do this with developments of all sizes that either enhance our existing communities or create new ones.
“Our Housing Partnership Programme will enable us to together build mixed developments of both private and affordable homes at pace and scale. Collaboration is one of the strengths of our organisation and we believe a proactive and enabling approach to working with a private sector partner will deliver excellent outcomes for all parties.”
Together with the two local authorities, Savills Housing Development & Regeneration, Browne Jacobson and Strongs are part of the project team for the procurement of a partner developer for the programme. Parties interested in the programme can find out further information and record their interest by visiting:
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV456351
