Thousands More Homes To Benefit From Major Improvement Works

More than 2,000 council homes in Swansea will benefit from the installation of new kitchens and bathrooms in the 2017/2018 financial year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council homes in areas including Cwm Felin Fach, Llanllienwen, Caemawr and Clase are among those where improvement works will be carried out. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Re-wiring works will also be undertaken in many properties as Swansea Council continues its drive to reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Others areas where similar improvement works will be carried out in 2017/2018 include Birchgrove, Clydach, Craig Cefn Parc, Pontarddulais and Penllergaer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Next Generation Services, said: “With new kitchens and bathrooms now being installed at many homes in Bonymaen, St Thomas and Port Tennant, it’s extremely satisfying that we’re able to announce the areas of the city that will benefit in the next financial year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Similar works have already been finished at many council homes in areas like Penlan, Gendros and Waunarlwydd, with some properties in Caemawr also due to benefit early in the New Year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Works of this kind are vitally important, not just because they’ll help the council reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, but also because they’ll boost the health and wellbeing of many thousands of people of all ages. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By 2020, we’ll have invested £260m in our housing stock, which shows how committed we are to tackling poverty in our city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The works are funded by revenue from council rents with support from the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tenants in the areas to benefit will be approached initially to gauge whether they’d like to take part in the scheme. If so, then kitchen and bathroom design works tailor-made to each property will be carried out before installations begin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Lewis said: “The installation of a new kitchen and bathroom usually takes around 15 to 20 days to complete, with an additional five days needed if re-wiring works are also carried out. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our contractors carry out the job with as little disruption as possible, with the vast majority of tenants extremely satisfied with the quality of the work.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Construction of the first new council homes in a generation in Swansea is also well under way on land off Milford Way in Penderry. Built to innovative energy efficient standards, this scheme will pave the way for other similar projects in the future as the council looks to tackle the city’s need for affordable housing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​