Pobl Group is delighted to announce the completion of a significant housing development in the historic Brunel Quarter of Chepstow. This project, a collaboration with Monmouthshire County Council, Welsh Government, and Barratt Homes, has resulted in the creation of 26 affordable homes. An additional 19 homes funded by the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP) have also been created to help families transition out of temporary accommodation.
Situated on the banks of the picturesque River Wye, the Brunel Quarter development offers a range of homes from one to four bedrooms. Part of the larger Barratt Homes project, it features 400 eco-friendly homes with parks, gardens, public spaces, and a riverside walk. The site is steeped in history, adjacent to the remnants of Brunel’s Grade II listed ‘Great Tubular Bridge’ and situated on the grounds of a World War I-era national shipyard. The redevelopment honours this heritage by preserving the stunning Brunel House within the wider development.
The 19 homes funded by TACP provide permanent residences for new tenants and will continue to serve those in temporary accommodation when tenants vacate, ensuring ongoing support for those in need. The project has already helped 18 families from diverse backgrounds, including a family from Ukraine, individuals fleeing domestic violence, and others who have become homeless through no fault of their own.
Funded by the Welsh Government, TACP was established in response to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis and the increasing pressures on temporary accommodation due to the worsening cost of living crisis and other resettlement schemes. The program aims to create over 1,000 additional homes in Wales within 18 months. The new homes at Mabey Bridge will provide stable housing for individuals and families currently in temporary accommodation and those resettling, supporting broader efforts to tackle and prevent homelessness.
Monmouthshire County Council’s Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, Councillor Paul Griffiths, along with Sally Meyrick, Strategy & Policy Officer for Affordable Housing, recently visited the site to review the progress and the newly completed homes.
Councillor Griffiths: “The new affordable homes in Chepstow are a welcome addition to the town. There is a high demand for affordable housing throughout Monmouthshire. Through this partnership with Pobl, Welsh Government, and Barratt Homes, local people can remain in their local community, living in a secure and settled home. I was particularly pleased to see how Welsh Government’s quality standards for decarbonisation and accessibility had contributed to the design of these homes which will become an integral part of Chepstow town centre.”
Sally Meyrick emphasised the importance of the new homes in meeting local housing needs:
“We are extremely pleased to see these high-quality affordable homes being delivered in Chepstow. There is a huge demand for affordable housing throughout Monmouthshire with over 3,700 households on Monmouthshire’s housing waiting list. These properties will make a massive difference to the lives of a number of local people, helping to provide secure, settled homes.”
Grant Prosser, Head of Development (East) at Pobl Group, said: “We are proud to have supported Monmouthshire County Council in acquiring these properties with Welsh Government funding. The need for affordable homes in Chepstow and across the country is critical. Working in partnership with developers like Barratt Homes allows Pobl to meet these demands effectively.”
The completion of this project marks a significant milestone in addressing the affordable housing shortage in the area and meeting the urgent needs of those in temporary accommodation. Many of the new homes are now full, with the last few tenants due to move in soon, completing the revitalisation of a site rich in history and fulfilling modern housing needs for the Chepstow community.
