Regeneration in Action

The community of Forgeside near Blaenavon has benefited from grants of nearly £900K from the Welsh Assembly Government. The money has been used to refurbish 60 properties and build 5 new houses.

The properties which are managed by United Welsh were built in the early 1980s and were in need of regeneration.

The refurbishment work has also made the properties more energy efficient. This has included replacement windows and doors, the installation of solar powered hot water heating systems to south-facing properties, insulated external render to a number of properties and the installation of replacement energy efficient condensing boilers.

Visiting the development, Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Minister for Housing said:

“The Assembly Government wants to see more sustainable homes. The features that have been incorporated into the properties here at Forgeside will help contribute to meeting the Assembly Government’s One Wales commitment to achieve an annual carbon reduction of 3% per year by 2011.  They will also hopefully reduce the fuel bills for residents.

“Housing associations are key partners in the delivery of new affordable housing. By working together to find more innovative ways of delivering new housing, it will enable the Assembly Government to achieve its goal to provide an additional 6,500 new build affordable homes over our four-year term of the Government.

“We want to meet Welsh Housing Quality Standard for all properties by 2012 and I am pleased that United Welsh is on track to achieve this.”

Peter Laing, Chair of United Welsh said: “This is a wonderful development that is sure to achieve its aim of improving the environment of Forgeside, provide a range of affordable homes to suit local housing need, reduce levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, and help to regenerate a sustainable community. The project has transformed the area and is a credit to all the individuals and organisations that have worked so hard to bring it to fruition.”  

Funding from the Heads of the Valleys regeneration programme was specifically used to make the properties energy efficient and for the installation of solar powered hot water heating systems.

Leighton Andrews, Deputy Minister for Regeneration said: “The Assembly Government is supporting, promoting and encouraging the use of microgeneration and renewables. We want the Heads of the Valleys to be a model of good practice in sustainability and this project is an excellent example of how the latest technologies can be used on older properties.”

27th February 2008

Jocelyn Davies AM takes a closer look at one of the new bungalows

Jocelyn Davies AM and Peter Laing, Chair of United Welsh