Our flagship partnership with First Choice Housing Association, Neath Port Talbot Council and Hale Construction has helped to address the need for social care and housing in Welsh communities.
We’ve been working as a partnership to develop the Cwrt Yr Ysgol community on the former Briton Ferry Special Needs School in Neath Port Talbot on a £2 million pound development, the latest to be funded through the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant programme, which is managed by Neath Port Talbot Council. The development consists of affordable, good quality social housing as well as supported accommodation to enable those with learning difficulties to live in their own communities.
Our Head of Projects for Development and New Business Elfed Roberts said it was the first time we’ve worked collaboratively with First Choice Housing to develop a way forward when tackling housing and supported accommodation shortages:
“A co-ordinated approach by architects W Griffiths and Glass and Hale Construction ensured that both elements of the development were completed simultaneously to help create that instant community feel.”
Cwrt Yr Ysgol has 12 two and three bedroom homes, which will be let by Gwalia, part of the Pobl Group, and Supported Accommodation delivered by First Choice Housing Association for 10 with staff on site 24 hours a day to promote independent living skills and community integration.
Our Director of Operations for First Choice Housing Richard Lloyd said how pleased we are as an organisation to have been involved in this scheme which will offer vulnerable individuals the opportunity to live independently and integrate within their local community:
“By working in partnership we have been able to provide affordable housing and supported accommodation collectively which will make a positive difference to the lives of those living in the Cwrt Yr Ysgol community.”
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Ali Thomas OBE said collaborative working between partners will help address the need for social care and housing in Neath Port Talbot:
“I am pleased that the local authority in its strategic housing authority role has brought together this highly successful collaboration. The local authority will be looking to encourage further such collaborations for the benefit of local communities. Housing delivers so much more than bricks and mortar, this scheme is a great example of how housing can make a real difference to people’s lives and quality of life. As well as achieving all this, the scheme has helped local jobs, skills and training opportunities, all of which are important priorities for the local authority. We strive very hard to make sure our citizens live in safe and high quality communities.”
Managing Director for Hale Construction Jonathan Hale said several small businesses benefited directly from the contract:
“It was an honour to have been awarded the contract for such a flagship development. Working collaboratively with both Pobl Group and First Choice Housing has been a pleasure. We took on board the needs of the surrounding community during construction and to see how the community has taken shape has been wonderful.”
