Council Investment Brings Much-Needed Upgrade to Swansea’s Croft Street

MUSIC from the likes of The Rolling Stones and Beatles has dated well from the 1960s but high-rise blocks of flats generally haven’t – and Swansea’s Croft Street is no different.
But tenants will get some satisfaction with a significant investment by Swansea Council in two high-rise blocks and low-rise homes next to them.
New kitchens, bathrooms and fire sprinklers will be fitted, and weather-proof cladding added to the exterior to improve energy efficiency. New security systems will also be installed. The council said work would start this year and take around 18 months to complete.
A Croft Street resident said she’d heard that contractors could be on site from the end of September. “A lot of things are going to get done,” said the tenant, who asked not to be named.  “I can’t wait to get new windows.” Another tenant said he welcomed the investment. “I think it’s a good idea, although I’ve only been here for nine months,” said the man.
The upgrade will include new landscaping and the refurbishment of a row of retail units facing nearby High Street. Garages on Croft Street will be retained as well.
The council has previously refurbished high-rise flats in nearby Matthew Street, and will move on to other blocks on Griffin John Street after finishing Croft Street.
Cllr Andrea Lewis, joint deputy leader and cabinet member for service transformation, said: “Our tenants in Matthew Street have welcomed the changes completed to their homes. While it is inevitable there will be some disruption for tenants for a project of this size and complexity, our contractors will be doing all they can to keep it to the minimum possible and residents will be kept informed of progress at every stage. But we’re confident that when complete, residents will be proud of what’s been achieved.”
The council has spent around £500 million over the past decade bringing its houses and flats up to Welsh housing quality standards. Further investment in council properties is taking place across the city with the funding for it, said the council, coming from tenants’ rent and Welsh Government grants, not council tax.
Cllr Lewis added: “Over the next five years we’ll be spending another £250 million improving people’s homes and building more energy-efficient homes to increase the supply of council housing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​