Cabinet Secretary Visits Port Talbot To See Results Of Regeneration Programme

Carl Sargeant AM, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, visited Port Talbot on Thursday 10th February to attend the official handover of the new Green Park housing development to its tenants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £4.5m housing development delivered by Neath Port Talbot Council and Coastal Housing is the first housing scheme to benefit from funding from the Welsh Government through its Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) programme. The project has also received funding from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Officially named ‘Rupert Hallowes Court’ the housing development has been devoted to Rupert Hallowes of Port Talbot, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross – the Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy – for his brave actions during the first world war. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The development has seen the transformation of a former industrial estate into a safe and desirable place to live, with excellent transport links and public pathways and cycle ways. The estate now houses 34 affordable homes, including houses, bungalows and apartments. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The creation of the new Riverside Walk which runs adjacent to the development now also connects the residential areas of Port Talbot with the town centre, Aberavon seafront and surrounding walkways, improving accessibility and links for pedestrians and cyclists between employment, housing and leisure areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It has been a pleasure to see the work being delivered as part of the Vibrant and Viable Places programme and through the Social Housing Grant and the difference it is making to people’s lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Green Park housing development on a former industrial site is providing much needed affordable homes, as well as improving the area for new and existing residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is an excellent example of how a housing development can benefit the whole community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader, Ali Thomas OBE said: “I am enormously proud of the transformation in the area over the last two years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The construction of new, modern housing and preservation of green space demonstrates the commitment that Neath Port Talbot Council has in regenerating the area and making the town centre a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and visit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am pleased to meet some of the families who have settled into their new homes and I wish them many happy years there.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gareth Davies, Director of Development at Coastal Housing Group said: “Green Park is an exciting regeneration project for Coastal in Port Talbot, which has not only brought high quality homes to the area but created job opportunities for local people too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s always a rewarding milestone when families can start moving into their new homes and we hope they really enjoy living here. Coastal looks forward to being part of more regeneration work in Neath Port Talbot in the future.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​