Investing Millions To Boost Council Homes And Buildings

Around £260m will have been invested in Swansea Council’s housing stock by 2020. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A huge amount of work is either complete, on-going or planned as part of the council’s drive to reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Recent schemes include more than £8m worth of investment over the last year to carry out re-wiring works and fit new kitchens, bathrooms and boilers in council properties in Penlan and Gendros. Funded by revenue from council rents with support from the Welsh Government, these works followed on from a similar scheme in Waunarlwydd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Similar works are now being carried out at properties in areas such as Bonymaen, St Thomas and Port Tennant, with properties in areas like Morriston, Birchgrove, Clydach, Gorseinon and West Cross also set to benefit in the near future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, said: “We take our commitment to reaching the Welsh Housing Quality Standard very seriously because works of this kind benefit many thousands of residents of all ages right across the city. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Although none of our homes fall below basic standards, major improvements like new bathrooms, new kitchens and upgraded insulation will further boost people’s quality of living and help them cut down on their fuel bills. This is why we’ve focussed on these kinds of works.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​