Council Project Shortlisted At Welsh Housing Awards 2016

Caerphilly County Borough Council has been shortlisted for the ‘Collaboration Award’ at the Welsh Housing Awards 2016, organised by CIH Cymru. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The shortlist is in recognition of the council’s approach to working in collaboration with a number of partner organisations in the regeneration of Rowan Place, Rhymney. Key partners in the project include Communities First, Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Gwent Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In October 2014 Caerphilly Homes, the council’s housing division, embarked on an ambitious regeneration programme in Rowan Place which will see over £4 million invested into improving homes and the wider environment in the area. An additional £1 million was also provided, to enhance the project, from Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Tackling Poverty fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Improvements to homes in Rowan Place have been undertaken as part of the council’s wider Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) improvement programme. Caerphilly County Borough Council received £7,340,000 from the Welsh Government Major Repairs Allowance for the 2016/17 financial year which has contributed to its WHQS improvements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alongside physical improvements to homes and the environment in Rowan Place, partnership working has helped deliver additional support for local residents to help address issues such as unemployment, basic skills, mental health and substance misuse. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In order to address these issues, part of the Vibrant and Viable Places Tackling Poverty fund was used to refurbish Hafod Deg Resource Centre on Rhymney High Street; creating a ‘hub’ for residents to access a number of services locally, including employment advice and drug and alcohol services. Outreach sessions are also available in Rowan Place to help those experiencing low level mental health issues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Poole, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, said “The council is honoured to be shortlisted for this prestigious award. Effective collaboration between Caerphilly Homes and its partners has been key to the Rowan Place project. We are already seeing this approach deliver significant benefits for local people; from helping lower tenants’ fuel costs as a result of the external improvements to their homes, to supporting people into employment through the services available at Hafod Deg.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Winners of the Welsh Housing Awards 2016 will be announced during a ceremony being held on Friday 18th November at The Vale Resort, Hensol. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​