A housing scheme in Cardiff Council’s ambitious new build programme providing flexible, sustainable, low-carbon accommodation for older residents to help maintain their independence in their own homes for longer has been given the go ahead today.
Planning approval has been given for one of the Council’s innovative Community Living schemes in Riverside, on the site of Canton Community Hall, which will also secure good quality community facilities for the local area.
The scheme will help boost the city’s supply of good quality council homes, contributing to the Council’s target of 1,000 new homes by 2022 and more than 2,500 in total in coming years, as well as contributing towards the target of delivering a net-zero carbon house-building programme.
Cardiff Council’s Planning Committee has today given the green light for 41 new homes on Leckwith Road.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “More high quality, sustainable and affordable new homes are on their way to the city via our own build programme. With continuing high demand for new council homes that are also low-carbon, that can only be good news.
“This new development will mean 41 new flexible and accessible homes in an area where there is a chronic lack of affordable housing for older people. The scheme has been thoughtfully designed to help residents to maintain independence, foster a sense of community and belonging and to encourage social interaction.
“With an increasing aging population – with the number of citizens 65 to 84 projected to rise by 44% over the next 20 years, it’s important that we are prepared and are building new homes that can not only meet the needs of older residents when they move in but also as their needs change as they grow older.”
The development will comprise of 39 one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom flats and will also deliver a modern and flexible community hall to ensure that a well-loved community asset on the site is retained 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 (MUGA).
The development will also include range of communal facilities to support independent living and help combat social isolation amongst older people, both living in the new development and within the wider community.
The additional, enhanced facilities that can be accessed by the wider community will also help keep tenants connected to their local area, at the same time as delivering benefits for people living nearby.
The scheme has been designed to a very high standard with impressive architecture and is highly sustainable, maximising the use of on-site renewable technology including solar PV and battery storage, a communal heat pump to ensure that mains gas is not used and the provision of Electric Vehicle charging points. An exemplar Sustainable Urban Drainage strategy (SUDs) that provides exceptional public realm improvements and a wide range of green infrastructure, including a green roof, will help ensure that a sustainable approach to storm water run-off is delivered to minimise the affect the new development will have on the existing drainage system.
