New council housing developments
To increase the housing stock and help meet demand we are building new council housing, as well as converting existing buildings and buying back properties that were previously sold.
Current and on-going developments
Sparks Centre
A former Swansea Council-owned community youth centre is being transformed into new apartments. Renovations are continuing at the site of the former Sparks Education Centre in Blaenymaes, which is being converted into four residential flats. The conversion of the old building into flats has been designed and completed by the council's Building Services Team.
The properties will be made available to residents on the council's housing waiting list and are expected to be ready for new tenants early in 2025.
The completed project will feature 2 one-bedroom apartments and 2 two-bedroom apartments, bringing back to life a disused building that has been out of use for a number of years. Additional tree planting and hedgerows, as well as the installation of bird and bat boxes, will help boost the community's green credentials and biodiversity.
Brondeg House
Ground works have commenced at the site of a former Swansea Council-owned educational facility known as Brondeg House in the Manselton community. Demolition works have previously been completed at the site after the ageing building was identified as surplus to requirements by the council.
The council-led development will see a total of 13 new homes, comprising of 8 one-bedroom flats and 5 three-bedroom houses, all featuring energy efficient technology, including solar panels, battery storage and ground source heating, all designed to keep homes warmer and energy bills to a minimum. The scheme is expected to be ready for new tenants early in 2026.
Brokesby Road, Bonymaen
A planning application has now been approved for the development of 156 affordable homes in the Brokesby Road area. The housing scheme is set to be developed in four phases providing a mix of homes ranging from one-bedroom flats, two-bedroom bungalows, as well and three- and four-bedroom houses. A multi-disciplinary team of architects, landscape architects and engineers from BDP, which has a studio in South Wales, is supporting the council in delivering the plans. We will be seeking to replicate the sustainable, energy saving qualities already established at other locations across Swansea where new council homes have been created, including sites in Birchgrove, West Cross, Blaenymaes and Clase. The development will provide enhanced public green spaces, incorporating play areas for children along with active travel routes linking the development with surrounding areas.
Funding for the latest council-led More Homes programme has been acquired through the Welsh Government Transitional Accommodation Capital Funding programme along with additional funding via the council's housing revenue account.
Retrofit projects
We completed our first retrofit project in Craig Cefn Parc in partnership with Cardiff University's Welsh School of Architecture. The Retrofit scheme is the first of its kind in Wales and consists of six bungalows which have had External Wall Insulation (EWI), new rendering, and new energy efficient windows and doors. Each property has been fitted with renewable technologies including ground source heat pumps, solar panelled integrated roofs, Tesla battery storage and Mechanical Ventilation Heating Recovery (MVHR) units.
This has transformed the bungalows into some of the most energy efficient homes in Wales substantially improving the warmth and comfort of the bungalows. Energy demand is significantly reduced thus reducing energy bills for the residents.
In August 2020 Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government visited Craig Cefn Parc to formally launch a £9.5 million Wales-wide housing improvement scheme - Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) and forms part of the Welsh Government Innovative Housing Programme.
Completed developments
Penlan and Eastside housing offices
Work to convert two former housing offices into new homes was completed in November 2023.
The Penlan scheme has provided five 2-bedroom flats and one 1-bedroom flat which are used as temporary accommodation.
The Eastside scheme has provided four 1-bedroom flats over 2 floors.
They all benefit from modern features with new kitchens, bathrooms and spacious living areas.
Alexandra Road, Gorseinon
A conversion of a former respite centre into two semi-detached, 3-bedroomed homes was completed in May 2023.
Both new homes have been fitted out with new kitchens, new bathrooms, energy efficient uPVC windows, heating equipment and beautifully landscaped gardens - complete with a garden shed.
Cherry Blossom Close, West Cross
The Circle development in West Cross was completed in March 2023.
The new homes consist of six semi-detached bungalows. The homes benefit from energy saving technology including battery storage, ground source heating, thicker wall cavities and solar panelled roofs. The homes were built by our Building Services team, helped along by a team of apprentices, who developed new skills in working with modern energy related construction methods.
Part of the new development at West Cross also includes the creation of a large boundary wall which circles the six properties. The wall has been created using stone, excavated from an earlier house building scheme in Clase.
Hillview, Clase
The building of 25 new energy-efficient three-bedroom homes have been built was completed in March 2022.
The houses incorporate renewable technology so all have solar roofs, Tesla battery storage, ground source heat pumps and a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems.
The new development is opposite a new Welsh School and also has an upgraded play area nearby.
Bryn House plus Residential Passivhaus Pods, Uplands
As well as the new build projects, work was completed in March 2022 to develop the former Bryn House Community Education Centre in Uplands to help tackle homelessness.
The building now provides four 1-bedroom flats. In addition, we have purchased residential pods, the first of their kind in Swansea. The pods are self-contained 1-bedroom apartments. They were delivered onto the site by crane and placed into position, ready for occupation. The pods are built to Passivhaus standard with minimal energy demand helping to keep energy costs low. The Welsh Government has provided funding for the scheme as part of its homelessness and housing-related support services.
Acacia Road, West Cross
Work was finished in December 2022 on the refurbishment of an old Social Services building in Acacia Road, West Cross. Two new large family homes have been created; one of which is a fully adapted property.
Ty Forest House
Ty Forest House, which was part of a terrace of council properties on Rhodfa'r Brain in Ravenhill, was converted into three family size houses in August 2022.
Colliers Way 1, Penlan
The Colliers Way new build scheme of 18 homes, was constructed by our in-house contractor in an area of high housing need, promoting learning and up-skilling of the workforce. The project was successful in receiving a grant contribution from the Welsh Government's Innovative Housing Programme Phase 1 for 2017.
Over 38 council employees worked on the project, including 14 apprentices, as well as 20 sub-contractors on some of the specialist elements of the build.
Building the first council homes in-house to Passivhaus standard was a very steep learning curve for us. Resources had to be quickly mobilised to deliver the scheme which aimed to ensure cost efficiency for tenants with projected reductions in annual energy usage. The First Minister opened the site in 2018 and met the tenants who have moved in to the new homes.
Parc Yr Helig, Birchgrove
The Parc Yr Helig development in Birchgrove was completed in September 2020.
The 16 new homes, of twelve 1-bed apartments and four 2-bedroom houses are designed as mini power stations and are known as Homes as Power Stations (HAPS). They include innovative renewable technologies to help keep energy use to a minimum; ensuring energy bills are as low as possible.
The renewable technologies will be able to generate and store energy through the use of solar roofs and Tesla storage batteries. The HAPS homes also have ground source heat pumps to help reduce the energy needed to heat water and Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems to ensure the property is well ventilated by providing good quality fresh air, helping to reduce condensation and unpleasant smells.
Colliers Way 2, Penlan
Phase 2 of the Colliers Way development was completed in April 2021.
The site consists of: eight 1-bed apartments, six 2-bedroom houses, four 3-bedroom houses and two 4-bedroom homes. They have been developed as part of the Innovative Housing Programme and are designed as mini power stations and known as HAPS.
Buy-back scheme
As part of the drive to increase the amount of social housing in Swansea we have an acquisition programme to buy back former council properties that were previously sold under the 'right to buy' scheme, in areas of high demand. At the end of March 2024, 157 properties have been returned to our housing stock.
The buy-back scheme is ongoing so if you own a former council property and are interested in selling it back to the council please contact us for a discussion about whether your property would be suitable for the scheme:
More Homes Team
- housing@swansea.gov.uk
- 01792 635047
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