Renewal Scheme Delivers Improvements To Port Talbot Homes

Householders across Port Talbot are being given greater warmth and security thanks to a major Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme now in its third phase. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Homes are receiving an External Wall Insulation System and many are also getting improvements to other parts of their homes including windows, doors and roofs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local contractors are currently working on properties in Oakwood Street in Port Talbot and Hillview Terrace and Gwyn Terrace in Aberavon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme is funded by three programmes currently being delivered in the area; Port Talbot’s Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) Regeneration Programme funded by the Welsh Government; The ARBED programme, also funded by Welsh Government, which aims to insulate so-called ‘hard to heat and treat’ properties and help to lift families out of fuel poverty, and the Sandfields East and Aberavon Renewal Area which was declared in 2004 and comes to an end in 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By the end of the third phase of the VVP and ARBED Programmes 278 homes will have been improved and brought up to standard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme is means-tested and some home owners are contributing 10 per cent of the cost. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Cllr Ali Thomas OBE said: “These schemes are improving the quality of life of many of our residents and have already made a real difference during what remains a very tough time for many families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Doing this work will not only improve the quality of life for many of our residents, but also help reduce fuel poverty by targeting some of our most vulnerable communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​