Former Bowling Alley and Fruit Warehouse in Tonyrefail to be Transformed into Affordable Homes by 2025

Housing developments at a former bowling alley and former fruit warehouse in Tonyrefail are due to be completed in 2025.
The two developments at the former Rhondda Bowl and former WR Bishop and Co Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale warehouse will include 34 homes in total and both are scheduled to be completed in 2025 by contractors Castell Group.
Both schemes are developments for Newydd Housing Association, which said there will be “affordability, energy efficiency and decarbonisation” at the heart of the work.
The former fruit warehouse development will include 14 one-bedroom apartments for rent and is being built in partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and funded in part by a Welsh Government social housing grant.
The second scheme at the former Rhondda Bowl will have a mix of one-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom houses for rent.
The schemes were given planning consent in 2023 and Newydd said they’re being designed to meet the latest environmental standards and will have an energy-efficient A-rated energy performance certificate due to the non-fossil fuel heating system.
It is hoped the homes will be complete in summer 2025 and residents interested in renting these properties need to register with HomefinderRCT to apply.
The Rhondda Bowl bowling alley featured in the Netflix comedy series Sex Education in 2021 and in June 2023, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s planning committee approved plans for a 100% social housing scheme there made up of 20 houses and flats at the site on Waunrhydd Road.
Plans to demolish the WR Bishop and Co warehouse on Penrhiwfer Road and build 14 100% social housing flats in its place were given the green light by the council’s planning committee in June 2023.
Louise Davies, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s director of public health, protection and community services, said: “The council’s housing strategy team has worked closely with Newydd Housing Association to design these two schemes in Tonyrefail, which respond to the local housing need.
“The 34 new affordable homes will be developed to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard set by Welsh Government and will bring an investment of around £5m to the area via the Social Housing Grant.
“I’m looking forward to seeing both schemes make important progress in the weeks and months ahead. Upon completion in 2025, they will each provide high-quality housing options that will be allocated through the council’s choice-based lettings scheme.”
Jason Wroe, chief executive of Newydd said: “We’re looking forward to building more affordable homes in Tonyrefail.
“This fantastic scheme will not only help contribute towards meeting our net zero targets but will also provide residents with homes that are safe, warm and affordable. We are looking forward to seeing these finished properties in 2025 but in the mean-time I would like to thank all our partners who have worked hard to get us to this stage.”
Dorian Payne, managing director at Castell Group said: “We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in communities like Tonyrefail. We are pleased to have partnered with Newydd on our ongoing projects at Waunrhydd Road and Bryn Rhedyn.
“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to delivering high quality homes for those in need. With groundworks ongoing and works progressing swiftly on both developments, we are proud to be contributing 34 much-needed EPC A rated homes for social rent, helping reduce the housing waiting lists in this area.
“Newydd and Castell Group are committed to creating a positive impact across the community and we will achieve this by working with local subcontractors and suppliers, establishing training and apprenticeship programmes, and investing into the local area through our community engagement initiatives.
“We look forward to seeing these developments flourish and will share more updates in the coming months.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​