Welsh Housing Awards 2024
Read all the shortlisted entries into this award category, developing high quality homes, at the Welsh Housing Awards (WHA) 2024 and find out who won the award on the night.
This award recognises the contribution of organisations involved in building new social and affordable homes across Wales.
Winning project name
Llysfaen
Winning organisation
Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association
Partner organisation
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Statement of support
Following the decommissioning of the Llysfaen Respite Care Home by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (MTCBC) in 2021, Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association (MTHA) was invited to purchase and refurbish the building into self-contained homes. The proposal resulted in:
- Six one-bedroom flats (two accessible, two walk-up, and two general)
- Two two-bedroom flats
- Two two-bedroom maisonettes
These plans aligned with MTCBC’s identified housing needs. The flats were designed with individual access or walk-ups to minimise communal areas, reducing service charge requirements and addressing fire safety risks by eliminating spaces that might necessitate additional prevention measures.
The redevelopment prioritised innovation, with a focus on energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions and lower residents’ utility costs. Features like high levels of insulation, solar panels, battery backup, and infra-red heating were included to make the homes more sustainable and help combat fuel poverty. The use of renewable energy sources and technologies was a cornerstone of the project, ensuring long-term benefits for residents and the environment.
Given the building’s location in Maes Y Garreg, leaving it vacant posed potential risks to the neighbourhood. MTHA quickly addressed this by assessing the structural components of the building and establishing a new energy performance standard. Improvements in insulation provided both energy and aesthetic benefits, ensuring the project was not only functional but visually appealing to the community. This reuse of an otherwise redundant building created 10 new social rent homes, all EPC A rated, off fossil fuels, and compliant with new standards where possible.
The inclusion of infra-red heating, photovoltaic panels (PV), battery storage, and an air source heat pump (ASHP) hot water cylinder, in line with MTHA’s “building fabric first” approach, ensured reduced energy costs for tenants. Eliminating the need for gas meters and using infra-red heating, which reduces condensation and mould by heating objects rather than air, further benefited residents.
The project set a benchmark for retrofitting older buildings to meet EPC A standards, demonstrating that such upgrades can help tackle fuel poverty despite higher upfront costs. Without intervention, the building could have remained unused for years, likely leading to further deterioration and higher refurbishment costs.
Community engagement played a vital role in the redevelopment’s success. Consultations between MTHA, MTCBC officers, ward members, and local residents revealed the building’s significance to the community. Residents supported the housing development, fearing a private sale would exclude them from the process. There were also concerns about anti-social behavior, which was becoming a problem in the area due to the recently closed Cefn Coed Primary School.
The redevelopment of Llysfaen is a testament to the power of collaboration. This joint approach ensured the project was not only feasible but also aligned with the broader community vision. Beyond meeting housing needs, the project provided multiple benefits to the local community, including:
- Renovating a neglected building and improving the neighborhood's visual appeal
- Reducing the risk of vandalism, squatting and anti-social behaviour
- Offering affordable, quality housing and addressing homelessness
- Involving local residents in the planning process, fostering a sense of ownership and pride.
The Llysfaen Redevelopment serves as a model for future projects, showcasing how innovative and high-quality construction can meet housing demands while delivering long-term benefits to the communities involved.
Outcomes and achievements
With the aim of reducing homelessness, MTCBC offered an existing building to help with the local housing need within the community of Cefn Coed. The building was of a significant value to the community, having previously been used as a respite home. MTCBC supported MTHA in gaining a social housing grant to deliver 10 new much needed homes.
Refurbishing the building resulted in a saving of embodied carbon. The building is wrapped with external wall insulations, and is further supplemented by solar PV panels with battery backup, and heated through a combination of infrared heating panels and hot water supplied via an air source hot water cylinder. Resulting in nine of the dwelling being EPC A rated and one being EPC B rated. This will reduce fuel poverty for those families living in these new homes.
The project has addressed holiday hunger through partnership working with Dallaglio RugbyWorks and the local rugby club. Through this, 40 families were supported over 16 weeks of holidays with free food and physical activities being provided. Through consultation with schools, businesses and third sector organisations, we have provided new paddles for two defibrillators, supporting availability of heart start equipment.
Shortlisted entries
Wales and West Housing - Three Brewers Court, Cardiff
Application entry
- Project name: Three Brewers Court, Cardiff
- Lead organisation: Wales and West Housing
- Partner organisations: Cardiff Council and Welsh government
Statement of support
Developed in partnership with Cardiff Council and part-funded with Welsh government’s Social Housing Grant the Three Brewers Court, a new development of much needed 50 one and two-bedroom apartments at Colchester Avenue, Cardiff welcomed its first residents in May 2024.
Built on the site of the former Three Brewers pub and adjoining car sales showroom, Three Brewers Court is WWH’s first apartment development built to meet the highest EPC A energy rating. The homes are set in two adjoining blocks with a retail store on the ground floor.
The scheme has been built using modern methods of construction (MMC) and utilises a ‘Metsec’ steel frame constructed off site and incorporates a ‘Structural insulated panel’ (SIP) with factory fitted windows, minimising on-site work, and ensuring high tolerances resulting in a highly thermally-efficient building fabric.
The all-electric homes aim to reduce fuel poverty for the residents. It is estimated that the average yearly energy bills to run a two-bedroom apartment will be around £307 and £216 for a one-bedroom property.
The homes have been designed with:
- High levels of insulation on the outside walls
- Triple-glazed aluminium windows and doors, which are among the most efficient on the market
- Air-source water heating, which takes heat from the outside air to heat up water in a cylinder tank
- Latest MVHR (mechanical ventilation and heat recovery) systems that circulate warm fresh air and reduce condensation
- Outside there are rain gardens to absorb excess water and drain it away slowly, reducing the impact on the drainage system and the risk of flooding. There are also bike stores and communal gardens for residents.
With over 7,000 people on the waiting list for accommodation in Cardiff there is an acute need for affordable accommodation, particularly the need for one bedroom accommodation. WWH has worked closely with Cardiff Council, who have identified individuals that have struggled to maintain their tenancies but do not require fully supported accommodation. As such, the scheme incorporates a 24 hour on site manager presence, providing low level support to the individual residents and intervening when needed. These managers are affectionally referred to as ‘Wobble Wardens’ and are aimed at reducing the cycle of people failing to maintain their tenancies and re-presenting as homeless.
WWH worked closely with all partners on the delivery of this scheme which spanned COVID-19 special measures in 2021/22. A number of community benefits initiatives were delivered.
These included working with:
- School children at neighbouring Howardian Primary School on an art project to design a section of the site hoarding
- Rhymney Community Group on community hall improvements
- Rhydypennau Primary School to use the supply chain to obtain competitive quotes for works.
- Further community benefits work will be delivered over the first year of occupancy.
In November 2022, work was briefly suspended when construction partners Jehu Group went into administration. WWH ensured that work did not stop for long, and construction resumed in January 2023 with sub-contractors, who were already working on the site, and brought Neath-based Hale Construction to manage the site and ensure the apartments were ready for residents to move in in 2024.
Outcomes and achievements
Resident bills have been proven to be low, as expected, with many saying how impressed they are with efficiency of the apartments.
Overall, the biggest achievement for the scheme is the dramatic and beneficial impact it has had on the street scene, particularly when compared to its recent run-down past. The high-quality materials utilised in the scheme have contributed to its impact on place making and creating a scheme all parties can be proud of.
The decision to provide minimal parking and focus on the resident courtyard space has proven to be the right one, car ownership has proven to be low with the residents, and the grassed, informal landscaped areas have already been used for resident BBQs and get-togethers, providing ideal opportunities for residents to connect and promote community cohesion.
Former minister for climate change, Julie James, said when visiting early in 2024; “This new development will provide much needed social housing for residents in Cardiff as well as encouraging active travel and helping people and families save money on their energy bills.
“It is an excellent example of the type of high quality, energy efficient and affordable homes we’re trying to provide for people and families in Wales.”
