Ambitious plans have been unveiled for a new low carbon estate of 131 affordable homes in North Wales.<\/p>\n
The 12-acre site in Pensarn, near Abergele, was acquired by housing association Cartrefi Conwy earlier this year.<\/p>\n
It will be the biggest housing scheme ever undertaken by Cartrefi if it\u2019s given the green light by planners at Conwy County Borough Council.<\/p>\n
The former Inter Leisure site in Towyn Road already has planning permission for housing\u00a0 after it was secured by the previous owners.<\/p>\n
Cartrefi will be applying for permission to amend the existing planning permission and have asked for more time to do so.<\/p>\n
According to Cartrefi Conwy managing director Katie Clubb, they are committed to using local labour and local suppliers, triggering a massive boost for the regional economy.<\/p>\n
The development will also be \u201cfantastic news\u201d for Cartrefi subsidiary, Creating Enterprise, who will be making the timber frames for the low energy, modular houses at their factory in Rhyl.<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s given the go-ahead, the scheme would take their order book to over 300 homes, providing more jobs and training opportunities for housing association tenants and other local people.<\/p>\n
The factory, which has already created nine new jobs, has received funding from the Welsh Government and the National Lottery.<\/p>\n
The Pensarn development is part of Cartrefi Conwy\u2019s strategy to build 1,000 homes with rock bottom energy bills and dovetails with the Welsh Government\u2019s strategy to deliver affordable, energy efficient homes that tackle fuel poverty.<\/p>\n
The beauty of the Passivhaus modular system is that in can be configured in different ways \u2013 ranging from a single story one-bedroom property to a two-storey family home.<\/p>\n
High performance insulation will be used to make the homes completely draught free, cutting heat loss to create a home with minimal environmental impact and saving residents up to 80 per cent in annual energy costs.<\/p>\n
The scheme\u00a0 will provide much needed homes for social or intermediate rent.<\/p>\n
Katie Clubb said the need for the development was underlined by the fact that there are around 1,800 people on the waiting list for social housing in Conwy.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThis is very exciting because it will be the biggest single housing development ever undertaken by Cartrefi Conwy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the help of financial support from the Welsh Government, we acquired the land earlier this year and it\u2019s going to be a development of 100 per cent affordable homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will all be modular homes with the frames being built at the Creating Enterprise factory in Rhyl, creating work and training opportunities for people who are furthest from the jobs market.<\/p>\n
Cartrefi\u2019s assistant director for development and growth, David Kelsall, said: \u201cAlthough the site already has planning permission, the plans for the original development wasn\u2019t progressed but that permission remains live.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking to amend the design to deliver a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme that will be mixture of tenanted homes for social rent and intermediate rent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a draft lay-out at the moment and it\u2019s gone to the local authority for them to comment on the plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we have got our designs firmed up we will consult fully with the public and other statutory consultees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adrian Johnson, managing director of commercial services at Cartrefi Conwy, who set up the Creating Enterprise factory, said it would be a hugely significant development on many levels.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThis is potentially incredibly good news and we are keeping our fingers crossed in term of planning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would be the equivalent of three years of orders for the factory in Rhyl and would take the total number of orders we have to over 300.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe properties themselves are very advanced in terms of building control standards, exceeding sound-proofing requirements and it has in-built radon gas barriers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s up to passive standard which means they are going to be among the most energy efficient homes you can build in the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe manufacture the panels in the factory which means they can be erected very quickly on site. No wet trades are required so if there is any bad weather it doesn\u2019t\u00a0 affect us.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother real bonus of this product is that it is so flexible and you can build anything from a one bedroom apartment to a five-bedroom house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive Andrew Bowden said: \u201cThese modular homes are revolutionising the social housing market in North Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe development could not be more timely because the sky rocketing cost of energy is a huge worry to people at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe energy costs of the homes in Pensarn will be 80 per cent cheaper than traditionally built homes of a similar size.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other benefit is that the profit made by Creating Enterprise will be recycled for social good which actually bring tenants back into paid employment. This is profit with a purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n