Plans advance for affordable homes scheme

Nicholas Thomas, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for a new affordable housing scheme have taken a major step forward, with the appointment of a contractor to build the homes.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is leading the project in Pontywaun to demolish its former Castle Court sheltered housing site on Silver Street and replace it with a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats.

According to the local authority, the redevelopment will help “meet local housing needs while creating a place the community can be proud of”.

Construction firm Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd has been appointed to build the affordable homes, following what the council called a “competitive procurement process”.

Demolition work is expected to begin in the autumn, and nearby residents will be notified of key construction work.

The project secured planning permission last year at a meeting of the council’s planning committee, when a senior officer told members the Castle Court sheltered housing site was “no longer functionally viable”.

Committee members voted unanimously to back the site’s redevelopment, and chairman Cllr Roy Saralis said the new affordable homes were “much-needed”.

Cllr Shayne Cook, the council’s cabinet member for housing, echoed those sentiments this week when announcing the contractor deal with the council’s housing provider, Caerphilly Homes.

“This is an exciting milestone for the project and for the local community,” said Cllr Cook. “These new homes will provide much-needed, high-quality housing while breathing new life into an underused site.”

He added the council is “looking forward to working with Jones Brothers to deliver a development that will benefit local people for years to come”.

Gareth Jones, the managing director at Jones Brothers, added the firm is “delighted to be working with Caerphilly Homes to bring 16 high-quality, sustainable and affordable homes to Pontywaun, and we look forward to playing our part in the regeneration of the site”.

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