Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council has supported the delivery of 27 new affordable, energy-efficient homes on the former Penygraig Junior School site, marking a new chapter for a well-known community location.
The development, now known as Clos Yr Ysgol, has welcomed its first tenants in January 2026. The site, which had remained unused since the school’s closure in 2018, has been transformed into high-quality homes designed to meet local housing need.
The scheme has been delivered by Trivallis with funding support from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant (SHG), which is managed locally by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council. Through its role in administering SHG funding, the Council works closely with Registered Social Landlords to identify priority sites and ensure new developments respond directly to the housing demand across the County Borough.
The Social Housing Grant programme enables the delivery of warm, secure and energy-efficient homes, whether through new build schemes or the refurbishment of existing properties. In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the programme plays a vital role in bringing forward developments that provide affordable housing for individuals, families and those requiring adapted accommodation.
Councillors, Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd joined representatives from Trivallis to visit the development ahead of tenants moving in, seeing first-hand how the former school site has been regenerated for the benefit of local people.
Homes at Clos Yr Ysgol have been allocated in line with identified housing need within Rhondda Cynon Taf, ensuring residents are matched with properties that suit their circumstances. The mix of homes has been carefully designed to support a range of households and promote stable, long-term tenancies within the heart of the community.
In addition to delivering new homes, the scheme has supported wider community benefits in Penygraig.
Through community benefit funding linked to the construction, £15,000 has been made available for local residents to decide how investment is directed in their area through the Penygraig Decides initiative. This approach empowers local people to put forward ideas, hear project proposals and vote on the initiatives that matter most to them.
By aligning housing development with community-led investment, the Council and its partners are helping to strengthen local connections and ensure regeneration delivers lasting benefits beyond bricks and mortar.
Councillor Mark Norris, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Housing at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, said: “It’s brilliant to see Clos Yr Ysgol completed. What a great start to 2026 for the residents who are about to move into these modern, energy-efficient homes.
“This project has helped to regenerate a well-known and well-loved landmark in Penygraig and provides a great mixture of homes for people set in the heart of the community, meaning residents are better connected to their local high street, local services, and public transport to get them where they need to go.
“Schemes such as this are an important part of our commitment to our residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf to provide quality and affordable housing, which we are able to support through the Social Housing Grant.
“It is no secret that the UK is in the grips of a housing crisis, with Rhondda Cynon Taf facing similar issues to the rest of the country. Access to quality and affordable housing for residents is a priority for us, and we will continue to provide funding to support the development of much needed homes.
“We are pleased to support Trivallis alongside Welsh Government in this very successful project, and everyone at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council wishes the new residents all the best for the future.”
Sarah Davies, Development Manager at Trivallis, said: “Transforming the former Penygraig School site has been a real privilege. This development is our first completely off-gas scheme and represents an important step forward in our carbon reduction journey, while also delivering significant cost savings for the individuals and families who will call it home.
“We are particularly proud that the scheme not only supports our environmental ambitions, but also responds directly to local housing needs. By including adapted bungalows and working closely with Housing Allocations, we were able to identify prospective tenants early and tailor homes to meet their specific requirements.
“This project was about more than building homes for the future. It was about transforming a site of local historic significance into a welcoming, sustainable neighbourhood where people can truly thrive.
“Through a progressive approach to delivering community benefit funding, investment from this development is now being reinvested into projects the community told us matter most, and we look forward to sharing the outcomes of that local investment in due course.”
