Coastal’s Castle Quarter - an outdoor classroom for Swansea students

A group of students from Swansea Metropolitan University were given a lesson in regeneration and demolition when they paid a visit to Coastal Housing Group’s newest development - Castle Quarter.

With demolition having just started on site, two groups of students from Swansea Metropolitan University took part in the field trip. Students from the HNC and HND Building Studies and BA (Hons) Project and Construction Management courses were given a real life insight into the £8 million land regeneration scheme to aid them in their studies so that they can apply practical experience to their relevant courses.

More than 16 students took part in the field trip, as Coastal seeks to increase its relationship with the University as part of its commitment to improve the communities in which it works.

Coastal Housing Group plans to invest in regenerating the land off Castle Lane, conveniently located in Swansea city centre. This development is set against the dramatic backdrop of Swansea’s historic castle remains, the Castle Quarter development will consist of 26 affordable rented apartments, with a further 4 duplex units overlooking the castle which are available for private sale. The ground floor of the development will consist of a small number of commercial units, including a kiosk located on The Strand.

The Castle Quarter development is a unique project in the city centre. The project consists of the demolition of properties on The Strand level before the construction phase may begin.

Locally based demolition contractor L.G Murphy (Swansea) Ltd, have been engaged to carry out the demolition of the buildings. The family run business has over 45 years of experience and has undertaken a variety of complex projects during this period.

Clare Watkins, head of Coastal’s supply chain targeted recruitment and training programme, said: “We are consistently looking to develop our relationships within the education sector and we already have an excellent relationship with Swansea Metropolitan University which we are pleased to be strengthening further. This visit to our Castle Quarter development is just one of the projects we are running in conjunction with local organisations and we are receiving excellent feedback from all concerned.”

One student to have benefitted from the link up is 23 year old, BSc Project and Construction Management student Mairead McGoldrick. She said: “We are obviously learning a great deal of theory through the course but it’s so beneficial to supplement this with real life case studies of schemes being undertaken by large players within the regeneration sector. Everyone really enjoyed the visit and learning about the various mechanics and technology required in such work – it certainly helps us translate theory into practice.”

During the visit, representatives from Coastal’s demolition contractor, LG Murphy, talked of the issues and methods of demolition when working on a complex site such as Castle Quarter, whilst Coastal addressed the importance of community consultation and inclusion.

The development represents a significant investment by Coastal in the local economy. Subject to planning permission being secured, the project will create jobs and training opportunities during construction, including apprenticeships. In addition, jobs will also be created in the commercial units once they open for business.

Programme Director, Mike Cullis of Swansea Metropolitan University added: “We are reliant on organisations like Coastal Housing Group to support our academic courses - the benefit to students is phenomenal. Whilst Coastal was at the height of its High Street regeneration scheme we carried out site visits and this started our relationship. It’s a vital learning tool and we hope that the relationship will continue to grow as Coastal increases its development plans across the area.”

The Coastal Housing Group supports people by developing homes and communities across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. It has one of the largest affordable housing development programme in Wales, investing over £30m every year.

The organisation offers desirable, affordable homes, for rent and sale, to people with different needs, lifestyles and accommodation preferences. It is expert in supporting people who require adapted homes, help in managing their tenancy and provides specialist services for older people.

Coastal Housing is an industrial and provident society, existing only for the benefit of the community. It is run by a voluntary Board of Management that includes tenant members.

 

Recognition at The Green Organisation's Green Apple Awards

We are delighted to announce that our Harbour Quay development was recognised at The Green Organisation’s Green Apple Awards held in Canary Wharf, London in June.

The Green Apple Awards are designed to recognise environmental and sustainability best practice, and Harbour Quay won the ‘Building Project – Housing Association’ category for the best residential building project commissioned or delivered by a housing association.

Completed in February 2012, Harbour Quay consists of 69 one and two bedroom apartments, nine of which are suitably adapted for tenants with disabilities. Judging was based on areas such as environmental benefits, social benefit, visual impact, innovation, energy efficiency and waste reduction.

The development was praised for its sustainable features which included its timber frame construction, materials that were sourced from sustainable certified sources within a 30 kilometre radius, and the main roof covering of the building which was formed utilising demolition rubble – to create a ‘brown’ roof, allowing vegetation to potentially grow over the surface.

Further development news...

We have a number of Coastal schemes at different stages of development, here is some updates on a few of them:

Wellfield Gardens, Cross Hands
Pennant has secured the acquisition of this site for the development of a mix of 58 two-bed, three-bed and four-bed affordable homes. Development of this scheme is due to commence early part of 2013, with the properties ready in 2015.

Empire Cinema, Ropewalk, Neath
Work has now started on the Empire Cinema development in Neath. The main construction is due to commence September 2012 and when complete the development will consist of eight two-bed and four one-bed apartments. The scheme will also have seven parking spaces, external drying and bicycle store.

Tennat Park Phase one
Due for completion in April 2013, Tennat Park phase one, off Crymlyn Road, Skewen will consist of two three-bed self contained adapted wheelchair bungalows for families identified by Community Services and supported by NPTCBC Housing.

Castle Quarter Plans

Plans for an exciting new development which could help transform a historic part of Swansea’s city centre are now on display

We are planning to invest almost £8 million in regenerating land off Castle Lane, and this development will offer affordable accommodation and new commercial units all under one roof. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Swansea’s historic castle remains, the Castle Quarter development will consist of 26 affordable rented apartments, with a further four duplex units overlooking the castle which are available for private sale. 

The ground floor of the development will consist of a small number of commercial units, including a kiosk located on The Strand. The development represents a significant investment by Coastal into the local economy. Subject to planning permission being secured, the project will create more than 50 jobs during construction – which will also include apprenticeship opportunities. In addition, around a further 60 jobs will be created in the commercial units once they open for business.

Coastal’s Director of Development Gerraint Oakley said: “This project represents a significant investment which we hope will reinvigorate this historic part of the city centre. We have a unique opportunity to develop something special here which will offer affordable accommodation in a city centre location.”

With the development located so close to Swansea Castle, we have worked closely with the local authority in designing the development and with other consultees to ensure the castle’s historic value is preserved.

Pontardawe pupils have the word on the street

(L-R)Liz Howells Pennant's Sales Advisor,
Gareth Carsley Site Manager
& Mal Thomas,Contracts Manager congratulate Daisy,
LLyr & Cerys for their winning street names

Children from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe have had the honour of naming three new streets in the local area thanks to Pennant Homes.

The competition, devised by property developers Pennant, asked pupils for street name suggestions for its new Parc y Dderwen development located opposite the school. It allows the children to leave a lasting mark on the community in which they are situated.

The winning street names, which were announced in a health and safety assembly delivered by Pennant’s construction team, were ‘Old School Road’, from 10 year old Daisy, ‘Y Dderwen Ddu’, from 10 year old Cerys and ‘Heol y Cwm Bach’ submitted by Llyr, also 10 years old.

Mrs. Myfanwy Rees, headteacher of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe, said, “We were so pleased to be involved in the street naming competition with Pennant Homes. Obviously the development is going to be a part of our lives for the next few years whilst it is under construction and this allows the children to take an ownership in what is happening within their locality.

“The children were very enthusiastic about the task and it certainly encouraged them to put their creative skills to good use. For the winners, it is an achievement they can cherish for years to come.”

Sandra Marsh, Pennant Homes’ commercial manager, said, “We were overwhelmed with the quality of all the entries and the judging process was made very difficult for us. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the school on this occasion and hope there will be more opportunities for us to engage with the younger members of our community in the future.”

The streets will be officially named once Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council has approved the suggestions made by the children.

(L-R) Pupils Daisy, LLyr and Cerys put their mark on their community

Properties on the new housing development in Pontardawe are being snapped up months before the foundations are even laid, thanks to a unique first-time buyer scheme.

The Parc y Dderwen development consists of 81 new homes – a mix of properties ranging from two bedroom bungalows to three bedroom townhouses.

Through Pennant Homes’ Homebuy scheme, new home owners own 100 per cent of their property, but only pay a mortgage on 75 per cent of it, keeping monthly repayments affordable.

Another benefit of the home buy scheme is that no part of the 25 per cent loan has to be repaid until the property is sold.

Pennant Homes, part of the Coastal Housing Group, has over 30 years experience of providing homes and creating communities. It offers affordable housing, built to high specifications, across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, with plans to extend its development area across the breadth of south Wales to Pembrokeshire.

It offers a fresh approach to the housing market, specialising in providing homes for first time buyers through its Homebuy loans, where up to 25 per cent of the cost of selected properties can be funded and the initial deposit reduced to 5 per cent or less subject to status. Pennant Homes offers opportunities for people to own their own home who might otherwise be unable to do so.

Castle Quarter plans to go on display

Multi-million pound investment to regenerate historic city centre location

Plans for an exciting new development which could help transform a historic part of Swansea’s city centre are to go on display this week.

At Coastal Housing Group we have plans to invest almost £8 million in regenerating land off Castle Lane.  This development will offer affordable accommodation and new commercial units all under one roof.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of Swansea’s historic castle remains, the Castle Quarter development will consist of 26 affordable rented apartments, with a further 4 duplex units overlooking the castle which are available for private sale. The ground floor of the development will consist of a small number of commercial units, including a kiosk located on The Strand.

The development represents a significant investment in the local economy.  Subject to planning permission being secured, the project will create more than 50 jobs during construction – which will also include apprenticeship opportunities. In addition, around a further 60 jobs will be created in the commercial units once it is open for business.

To ensure local people are aware of the plans for the development, we will be holding a series of public information events, which will be held at:

First Floor, 11 Wind Street, Swansea

·        Thursday, 5^th July  - 4pm to 7pm

·        Friday, 6^th July – 4pm to 7pm

·        Saturday, 7^th July – 10am – 1pm

Minister welcomes Swansea’s steps to regeneration

Coastal Housing’s director of development Gerraint Oakley shows Wales’ Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis and Leader of Swansea Council David Phillips around the regeneration of High Street, Swans

Wales’ Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis, has welcomed the partnership approach that is showing progress in regenerating Swansea’s High Street and its surrounding area.

The Minister was in Swansea visiting projects that have benefited and received support from the Welsh Government Swansea Regeneration Area.

Amongst the highlights of his afternoon tour was a trip to Coastal Housing Group’s iconic Urban Village, to which the organisation has recently moved over 100 of its Swansea based staff. The Minister’s visit also took in progress on the voluntary landlord partnership initiative – an innovative multi-landowner approach to short term retail letting in partnership with Swansea Creative Hub – to improve the environment whilst promoting culture through imaginative use of spaces.

Coastal received £900,000 grant from the Swansea Regeneration Area for its Urban Village regeneration programme. It is intended to transform Swansea’s High Street, and bring Kings Lane back into use as the vibrant linkage between High Street and the Parc Tawe site. Boosting social and economic development, whilst improving the environment, the newly completed scheme results in a mixed use of up to eight retail units along High Street, with three floors of office space above.

Urban Village is the flagship development to kick-start the regeneration of High Street. It is complemented by a variety of programmes including Art Across the City and the Voluntary Landlord Partnership. Such programmes involve key partners including Coastal Housing Group, Welsh Government, Swansea City Council, Swansea Creative Hub and Swansea BID.
 

The Voluntary Landlord Partnership, a Coastal initiative working with Towncentred with the support of Regeneration Area grant funding, seeks to establish temporary uses of buildings and public space. It seeks to identify opportunities to support owners and potential users to set up arrangements including pop-up shops and re-using buildings. Art Across the City is an artist-led charity offering different ways for people to engage with contemporary art created for popular public spaces, giving everybody the chance to see and experience contemporary art without having to enter an art gallery.

The programmes complement works being delivered across Swansea under the collaborative City Centre Strategic Framework.

Huw Lewis said: “Through our various regeneration programmes the Welsh Government is helping to breathe new life into Swansea’s High Street, one of the key gateways to the city. It’s fantastic to see how the Urban Village is developing. It is a prime example of how effective the partnership approach to regeneration can be.”

Coastal Housing Group’s Chief Executive Tim Blanch said: “Urban Village is a flagship scheme to rejuvenate the area. It is complemented by a variety of innovative projects. Working in partnership, Coastal is seeking to explore opportunities to increase footfall and cultural and social activity in the area.”

Coastal Housing’s director of development Gerraint Oakley, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis, Leader of Swansea Council David Phillips and Coastal Housing Group’s Chief Executive Tim Blanch

Development Updates - £25m Urban Village

The Urban Village is helping to regenerate the area, provide affordable homes, create jobs, and provide a leisure and work destination that people will want to be a part of.

The Urban Village is providing a new look retail frontage for Swansea High Street. As a previously unused part of High Street and the Strand, the regeneration is breathing new life into the area. The ‘Village’ designed by architects, Holder Mathias, will provide a series of courtyard spaces and link offices, shops, residential apartments and retail food and drink outlets. The aim is to create a destination experience - a place where people will want to shop, eat and work.

The Village also incorporates a Creative Hub. The Swansea Creative Hub will be the first of its kind in Wales, an office block specifically for use by commercial creative businesses, it allows the creative supply chain to be situated in one place in a dedicated commercial and supportive environment.

The idea is that people working in a wide range of creative industries such as advertising, marketing, video games, music, publishing, design, etc will be interested in taking up the spaces.

Ultimately it will help establish a dynamic, colourful and exciting place to work, live and shop. The apartments are built over 10 floors on top of a three storey multi-storey car park. Built to a code four sustainability standard, all apartments will benefit from well designed and spacious living accommodation. Designed to lifetime home standards they include modern kitchen living combined areas and fully fitted spacious bathrooms, with compact shower cubicles.

With the added bonus of integral balconies, due to their location and height of the apartments, many of the residents will be able to enjoy commanding views across the City and beyond. Services provided to the apartment will include a caretaker, remote door entry and CCTV. And, the apartments will literally be breaking ground with their Community Garden Allotments, which residents will be able to work and cultivate.

Preference for the apartments will be given to applicants who meet the criteria under our allocations policy for City Living. The policy is aimed at encouraging people who already work in the area, to live in it as well, thereby generating more interest in the area and making it a more vibrant and interesting place to work and live.

And that’s not all...

Over the five years of its development, around 320 jobs in the construction industry will have been generated. On its completion, the Urban Village itself is expected to see around 426 full and part-time jobs.

£25m Urban Village

• 76 two bed apartments for City Living.

• Commercial/Retail/Office

• Space/Creative Cluster

• Architect: Holder Mathias

www.holdermathias.com

• Planning: Nathanial Lichfield and

Partners: www.nlpplanning.com

• Engineer: Bingham Hall

• Contractor: Mi-Space (Midas Group) www.mispaceuk.com

• Consultant: SCP

• Contract: £6,625,000

Phase One - 52 weeks

High Street Streetscape

Quality commercial/office space.

Completion: February 2012

Phase Two - 68 weeks

• 76 Apartments

- 66 x two bedroom

- 10 x fully adapted

Completion: June/July 2012

Phase Three

Creative cluster building and warehouse

refurbishment, starting Autumn 2011.

Additional Publicity/Adverts

Swansea Creative Hub

Flexible space

Flexible rent

Flexible lease

Huw@swanseacreativehub.com

Call Huw: 07721 375883

http://www.urbanvillageswansea.co.uk/

(All information taking from HomeFront Winter Edition 2011/2012)

Development Updates - Baron's Court

Baron’s Court, (Former Baron’s Nightclub), College Street, Swansea

The apartments have an open-plan kitchen/living room arrangement. The location of Baron’s Court is ideal for people who are working in the City Centre. The scheme also includes nine fully-adapted properties.

Baron’s Nightclub was a well known landmark to many in the City over the age of 40 and its regeneration has been welcomed. The scheme is a mix of refurbished and rehabilitation of the original building with a newer wing built above the original nightclub. The apartments comprise of 16 contained within the existing framework and the remainder built over four newly constructed floors.

There is no parking at this site, but it is hoped that this will encourage people to use alternative transport options. New residents are also welcome to take advance of Coastal Housing’s ‘City Wheels Car Club’.

• Total Cost : £3M

• 32 Apartments

- 10 x two bedroom apartments

- 22 x one bedroom apartments

• Contractor: Mi-Space

• Architect: Dewi Evans

• Engineers: Clarke Bond

• Cost Consultant: SCP