Partnership Delivers £16 Million Affordable Housing Investment In Blackwood Area

Joint working between Caerphilly County Borough Council and Pobl has resulted in a number of new affordable housing developments in the Blackwood area, with a total investment of over £16 million. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s Housing Strategy Team also helped secure £5.8 million towards these developments from Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Recent and ongoing developments will result in a total of 117 new affordable homes being built in the area. These homes are across a range of tenures, from social rent to low cost home ownership, open market sales and include a mix of property types and sizes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Completed developments include Cwmgelli Lodge, a 22 person facility for younger people with dementia, and a number of developments containing properties which have been adapted specifically to meet the needs of individual families. Pobl’s other affordable housing developments in the Blackwood area include schemes at Woodbine Road, Oak Terrace, Waunborfa Road, Thorncombe Road and the site of the former Blackwood Junior School. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as providing affordable homes for local people, these developments have also delivered a number of other benefits, including jobs and training opportunities. Support has also been given to other local groups and initiatives, including the donation of fencing to Blackwood Comprehensive School and the demolition of the derelict former Girl Guide hut. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neil Barber, Pobl Director of Development, Sales & New Business said “We are committed to making a positive difference throughout the areas in which we operate. We have a long history of delivering homes in Caerphilly county borough and the area plays an important part in Pobl’s future plans. The council have been very proactive partners in working closely with us to help create these new homes. The range of housing solutions we can offer means that we are seeking to create balanced communities from the outset. Some people may not be aware of the range of homes we offer and in particular the impact our shared ownership homes can have for people who aspire to own their own homes but can’t afford to purchase on the open market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Poole, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing added, “Delivering good quality, affordable housing is a key priority for the council. We are grateful for the ongoing support from Welsh Government, Pobl and our other housing association partners in helping us achieve this. It’s also very pleasing to see that the significant amount being invested into the Blackwood area is not only helping meet the housing needs of local people, but also delivering wider benefits for the community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​