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.

Grow your own... At Vetch Veg

In August 2011 the Vetch Veg project was born. Based on the historic site of the Vetch football field, an urban utopia has been created in the heart of Swansea.

Vetch Veg is an artwork and site specific project working in collaboration with the community of Sandfields, Swansea. The work is co-ordinated by Artist Owen Griffiths, commissioned by Adain Avion cultural Olympiad Wales.

This collaborative project with local residents has seen the pitch at Vetch, the iconic football stadium that, in 2012 would have celebrated its centenary, transformed into edible land. This has provided the residents and the surrounding community free space in which to work together, growing produce, keeping bees and chickens etc.

The grand finale of the project was the Vetch Veg Flower and Produce Show, which took place in June 2012 when the Adain Avion plane came to Swansea.

Sarah Bennett, Housing Services Manager and Chris McDonnell, Estates Co-Ordinator visited Vetch Veg recently to see how four of Coastal’s tenants, who had taken plots had done.

The tenants, Dawn and Tim Mitchell, Wayne Morgan and Liz MacNamara, all live in Coastal homes in the Sandfields. Living in flats, they have no gardens and could only grow plants in pots and tubs. They became involved after seeing posters inviting local residents to attend a meeting last August.

Our tenants told Sarah how their gardening skills have literally grown over the last 12 months.

For more information visit: www.vetchveg.co.uk

Housing benefit is changing... Will you be affected?

Over the last few months we' ve talked about the Housing Benefit Reform, which is coming into force in April 2013.

If you receive Housing Benefit, then these Government changes may have a big impact on you. It is important you understand what impact it will have.

How many bedrooms?

From April 2013 the Welfare Reform Act states that if you receive Housing Benefit and have more bedrooms than you need, the money you get from Housing Benefit will be reduced, giving you a choice of:

• Paying the additional rent yourself and continuing to live in your present home

• Or, if you can’t afford the extra rent, moving to a smaller property.

If you are unsure of whether this applies to you, it is important you contact us as soon as possible to find out and discuss your options. Doing nothing is not an option, as it means you will find yourself in rent arrears and it will be much harder for us to help you.

Contact your Housing Officer or telephone Coastal Housing on 01792 479200 for more information on Housing Benefit Reform.

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.

Staff facing challenge to raise funds for Borneo!

At the end of June, Michelle an Executive Support Officer here with us at Coastal Housing took part in a 25 mile walk around the Gower Peninsular as part of the Gower Walking Festival. 

Though not fundraising for this walk, it was just a warm up for more challenging things to come, namely the Mountain Trail Challenge which is due to take place on the 15th September.  The challenge involves a 30 mile hike across the Brecon Beacons!

Michelle will be fundraising for Raleigh International in order to help build another Gravity Water Feed System in Borneo so please visit www.simplyfundraising.co.uk/fundraising-page?rid=124 to make a donation to the cause.

Click here to read about the impact of Raleigh's work in Borneo