Construction is set to begin on the development of two new Community Living Schemes that will provide flexible, sustainable, low-carbon accommodation for older residents to help maintain their independence in their own homes for longer.
A total of 86 new council apartments, that form part of the Council’s ambitious housing development programme, will be delivered across the two schemes in Butetown and on Leckwith Road. As well as boosting the supply of much-needed council homes in the city, the two schemes will also deliver a range of community-focussed facilities for the local areas.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “I’m really very excited to see both these schemes, that will provide more high quality, sustainable and affordable new homes, starting on site. They are in excellent locations for older people to stay connected to their communities, in areas where we need more good quality council homes.
“Both developments are part of an £150m investment programme, building new council homes for older people across the city and part of our wider plans to deliver 2,700 new council homes over coming years. We’ll be delivering 600 new apartments across 10 Community Living Schemes for over 55s and the first one of these brand new schemes, Addison House on the Aspen Grove site in Rumney, will welcome residents later this year.
“As a member of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities and with an ambition for Cardiff to be a great place to grow older, it’s important that the new homes we’re building not only meet the needs of older residents when they move in but also as their needs change as they grow older.
“With both the Bute Street and Leckwith Road scheme, residents will have high quality accommodation and access to first-class facilities to help maintain their independence, foster a sense of community and encourage social interaction.”
Encon Construction Ltd will begin work on the Leckwith Road Community Living Scheme that will provide 41 new one and two-bedroom homes on the site of the former Canton Community Hall. The development will also deliver a modern and flexible community hall to ensure that a community asset is retained on the site and has a long-term and sustainable future. The new community hall will be greatly enhanced with a much larger community garden and new Multi-use Games Area.
The properties are expected to be ready for new residents in Spring 2025.
On Bute St, Hale Construction will develop a similar scheme that comprises of 45 one and two-bed apartments with balconies or private patios, a ground floor community space and roof garden. The scheme will offer accommodation for people over 55 in Butetown, including residents currently living in Nelson House following the Council’s decision to repurpose the high-rise block for family accommodation.
The scheme includes electric scooter charging and storage, bicycle storage, activity rooms, a residents’ lounge, medical suite, guest suites, laundry room and landscaped communal gardens as well as a community hall that is to be leased to a local gymnastics club.
The Bute St scheme, on the site of the former Brandon Tool Hire building, is also expected to be completed by Spring 2025.
Both schemes have been designed to a very high standard and will have low-carbon credentials, in line with the Council’s One Planet Vision in response to the climate emergency.
Ground source heat pumps will be used in both developments as a clean and alternative energy source to gas while PV panels will reduce the demand for electric, minimising the environmental impact of the buildings and reducing ongoing running costs for residents.
