New £1.5m Colwyn Bay Housing Scheme Officially Opened
Thursday 25th Apr 2024
New affordable housing development Nant Eirias in Colwyn Bay was officially opened by Hannah Blythyn AM, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government at an event on Thursday 3rd October 2019.
A total of 12 one and two-bedroom apartments have been built by North Wales Housing as part of the £1.5 million project.
The new development forms part of Conwy County Borough Council’s Bay Life Regeneration Programme; developed with the support of the Vibrant and Viable Places grant from the Welsh Government.
Helena Kirk, Chief Executive, North Wales Housing: “We are extremely pleased to have created 12 new affordable rent homes in Colwyn Bay. This is the result of great partnership working with Conwy County Borough Council. By working together, we have improved the housing prospects of young local families and helped tackle the wider issue of housing shortage. This scheme is in a key location and on a prominent site on the approach to Colwyn Bay town centre from Eirias Park. The apartments are a marked improvement on the former derelict properties which had occupied the site for so long.”
The new homes were North Wales Housing’s first intermediate rent development; this means they are aimed at people in work, or who can pay the rent without financial assistance but will be less than the rent charged for a similar home in the area from a private landlord. Lettings were managed by Tai Teg, Conwy’s Affordable Homes Register.
Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn said: “Our investment has helped to create 12 beautiful and efficient affordable homes, and will contribute to wider regeneration work going on locally in Colwyn Bay. We want to support our towns to ensure they are attractive, vibrant places for people to live, work and visit – and I was pleased to see the completed development and hope the residents will be happy in their new homes. Creating more good quality affordable housing in and around our town centres, so people can live and work centrally and contribute to the local economy, is a priority for this Government – and will help towards our commitment to build 20,000 affordable homes during this Assembly term.”
Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing for Conwy County Borough Council said: “This site had been an eyesore for years and, given its location, it was ideal for residential properties. So, I’m very pleased to see this development of good quality, affordable homes come to fruition. Affordable housing for local people is a key priority for the Council and this project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we work together. I hope the tenants are settling in and I wish them all the very best in their new homes.”
It isn’t just the residents that have benefited from this new development, there have also been many community benefits, including local training and employment opportunities.
The new homes are efficient in terms of energy running costs – a key consideration of the scheme’s funding through Welsh Government and Conwy Council’s Vibrant and Viable Places and Social Housing Grant.
Helena Kirk, Chief Executive, North Wales Housing explained: "The properties offer a range of features that help ensure they achieve Sustainable Homes level 3. This high level of performance makes a significant contribution to reducing energy bills and ensuring homes will be warm and comfortable in all seasons. Great news for residents with the winter approaching.”
Residents moved in their new homes in June 2019 and have settled in well into their new homes.
