#codi-group — Public Fediverse posts

FELINDRE: ‘A real let-down’ — two council leaders, years apart, share the same frustration over stalled flagship site

Parc Felindre, the 16-hectare business park north of junction 46 of the M4, sits on the site of the former Felindre Tinplate Works — once part of the industrial machine that made Swansea a powerhouse. The works were decommissioned in 1989 and demolished in 1996.

The brownfield site was cleared and remediated under a joint venture between the council and the Welsh Government, and allocated for offices and industry. Years on, much of it remains undeveloped, and business land is still being actively marketed.

The frustration was laid bare at a meeting of the council’s scrutiny panel this week, in a rare moment of cross-party agreement between the current council leader and one of his predecessors.

Cllr Chris Holley, leader of the official opposition group of Liberal Democrats and Independents, and a former leader of the council, said the site had been “a real let-down to Welsh Government and ourselves”.

He pointed to the scale of public money already sunk into it, noting the works had been demolished and more than £25 million spent preparing the land — only for the bulk of it to remain empty, save for two warehouses and a small development.

Holley said the council needed to think hard about what the site was originally intended to deliver when it was cleared, more than 25 years ago, when the plan had been for factory units under the old Welsh Development Agency.

During his own time as leader, he said, around half a dozen interested parties had come forward to look at the site and set out what they wanted to do with it — but none had ever signed the paperwork to actually build.

Council leader Rob Stewart agreed the site had been a disappointment, and confirmed the authority was still fielding interest — but that none of it had so far proved a good fit.

He said the site’s existing power supply, a legacy of its industrial past, had attracted repeated interest from companies wanting to build data centres of varying sizes.

But Stewart said such proposals carried two problems: they would require a significant reconfiguration of the works already on the site, and data centres “don’t tend to create a huge amount of jobs” — a key consideration for land originally intended to generate employment.

The challenge, he said, was that while there had been genuine interest in doing something with the site, the proposals had not been compatible with either its current configuration or the council’s ambitions for it.

Stewart said he and officers had held fresh discussions with Welsh Government officials about how to “unlock” the site, and that a decision was needed on whether to stick with the original employment-led vision or change track and pursue different uses.

Parc Felindre was one of the major strategic sites earmarked in Swansea’s Local Development Plan — part of a blueprint that promised thousands of new homes and jobs across the city but has been beset by delays.

Alongside the employment land, there are long-standing plans for a brand-new village on adjoining land owned by the Welsh Government.

The scheme, Pentre Felindre, was first proposed in 2018 and envisages around 800 homes — a fifth of them affordable — together with a primary school, shops, a village hall and recreation space, built on land next to the business park.

Progress, like that on the employment site beside it, has been slow. But the scheme resurfaced at this week’s meeting, when a panel member asked for an update on the Welsh Government-led housing plan.

The regeneration report before councillors says a proposal for Pentre Felindre has now been put forward by CODI, the housing group formed earlier this year by the merger of Pobl and Linc.

Officers told the meeting that CODI had been asked to update its proposal, after which it would be shared among the joint venture partners behind the site — the council and the Welsh Government.

Back on the employment land, there are some signs of activity. The parcel delivery firm DPD became the park’s first occupier, building an automated distribution centre due to open this year.

And the regeneration report says heads of terms have been agreed for the disposal of two further plots — 6B and 7B — for start-up units for small and medium-sized businesses, with the scheme finalised and lawyers instructed.

It is a modest tally for a site that once carried far greater hopes. In the 1970s, the Felindre Tinplate Works employed more than 2,500 people.

For now, though, the bulk of the Felindre site remains what it has been for a quarter of a century — cleared, connected, and largely empty.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

7,000 homes promised, just 300 built: Swansea’s housing blueprint falters
An in-depth look at why delivery has stalled across the city’s strategic development sites.

Wales’ biggest housing group gets new name as Linc and Pobl merge to form CODI
The merger that created the group now behind the Pentre Felindre housing proposal.

Labour signed a deal to move Welsh Government offices to the city centre — Plaid won’t say if they’ll honour it
Another Swansea regeneration site caught between two governments.

HMP SWANSEA: Prison healthcare £4.8m short as frozen funding pot loses a third of its value, MPs warn

Healthcare for prisoners at HMP Swansea and two other Welsh jails is running £4.8m short, MPs have warned, after the funding pot meant to cover it was left frozen for more than a decade.

A committee of MPs found that the money the UK Government sends to Wales for prisoner healthcare has not risen since 2014 — and has quietly lost almost a third of its value since.

The finding comes in Jagged Justice, a report on prisons and rehabilitation in Wales published this month by the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee.

It is the same inquiry that branded the stalled Swansea women’s centre in Cockett an “unacceptable” delay.

The healthcare money is a single transfer covering three prisons — HMP Swansea, HMP Cardiff and HMP Usk & Prescoed.

It was set at £2.5m in 2014 and has stayed there ever since, even as costs and prisoner numbers have climbed.

Adjusted for inflation, that £2.5m is now worth just £1.9m in real terms, according to analysis by the House of Commons Scrutiny Unit.

To match what it could buy in 2014, the transfer would need to stand at around £3.4m today.

The gap is stark when set against what the care actually costs.

Healthcare at HMP Swansea alone cost just under £2.47m in 2024/25, figures from Swansea Bay University Health Board show.

Across all three prisons, the bill came to more than £7.25m — leaving a shortfall of £4.8m between the frozen transfer and the real cost.

The committee said prisoner populations in Wales have “higher, more complex and more concentrated” health needs than people in the community, making the squeeze harder to absorb.

It has called on the UK Government to revise the funding formula and uplift the transfer in line with inflation.

The report also lays bare wider strains at HMP Swansea.

In the 12 months before inspectors visited, around a third of prisoners leaving the jail were released either homeless or into unstable, temporary accommodation on their first night out.

It is a problem with real consequences. The committee heard that people released from prison into homelessness are twice as likely to reoffend.

Locally, one response has been the conversion of the former central police station on Alexandra Road into 68 rooms of supported accommodation, known as Llys Glas.

The building is owned by social housing landlord Codi, while Swansea Council runs the on-site support service — an arrangement designed to move people out of bed-and-breakfast placements and bring help together under one roof.

Among those it supports are people recently released from prison, with the council working alongside the probation service to place former inmates and link them to the help they need.

The committee’s findings on resettlement chime with concerns it raised about Welsh probation more widely, with the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot service rated “requires improvement” earlier this year.

Time out of cell at HMP Swansea also varied sharply, the report found — from around seven hours a day for those in full-time work down to as little as 45 minutes for new arrivals.

Inspectors have long warned that prisoners kept locked up cannot take part in the education, training and work that help cut reoffending.

The report flagged cross-border problems too, with Swansea Bay health bosses describing difficulties accessing the medical records of patients registered with English GPs when they arrive in custody.

The health board told MPs that things would improve “if there was one single system or there were more systems which communicated with each other.”

HMP Swansea is one of five prisons in Wales, four of them in the south, and one of three covered by the frozen healthcare transfer.

The committee’s wider verdict was that justice in Wales is held back by overcrowded prisons, staffing pressures and UK Government policy that does not always fit the country’s particular needs.

It is not the first time MPs on the committee have raised the alarm over a Welsh prison. In March, the same committee warned that plans to expand Bridgend’s HMP Parc could “risk lives” after 17 men died there in a single year.

For now, the committee wants ministers to start with the money — uprating a healthcare transfer that, on its own figures, has been falling behind for over a decade.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

COCKETT: Women’s centre forced through against 215 objections still not open four years on
MPs brand delays to the stalled Swansea Residential Women’s Centre “unacceptable.”

PRISON PLAN WARNING: HMP Parc expansion ‘risks lives’ after 17 deaths in one year, warn MPs
The same committee called for a halt to the expansion of Bridgend’s troubled prison.

Swansea and Neath Port Talbot probation service told it is failing to keep the public safe
Inspectors rated the local probation service “requires improvement.”

Former Swansea police station turned into 68-room homeless accommodation
Llys Glas offers supported accommodation, including for people leaving prison.

SWANSEA: 186 homes planned for Penplas – including derelict supermarket site

Plans have been unveiled to build 186 new homes on land in Penplas that has stood derelict for nearly three decades.

The proposals focus on three sites off Milford Way — including the former Leo’s superstore, which has remained vacant since it was demolished in the mid-1990s.

Developers say the scheme could finally bring the long-neglected land back into use, delivering new housing for local families and first-time buyers.

The plans have been submitted to Swansea Council for pre-application consideration by housing association Codi (previously known as Pobl), working in partnership with building firm Morganstone and the local authority.

If approved, the development would form a key part of wider efforts to regenerate the Penderi area, which covers Blaenymaes, Portmead, Penplas and Cadle.

The move comes amid growing demand for housing in Swansea, particularly in established communities where younger generations are struggling to stay close to family.

Local resident Dylan Jones said the plans could help keep communities together.

He said: “New houses are very much needed in this area. People who grow up here naturally want to live near to their parents and friends when they start their own families.”

He added: “We are a proud community, who always look out for each other, and these proposals look like they will also enable those who may want to downsize from family homes as they get older.”

The new homes are expected to be modern and energy efficient, with developers promising lower energy bills and environmentally friendly design.

Plans also include improved green spaces and better links between different parts of the neighbourhood, reflecting feedback from local residents.

The development builds on wider regeneration work already underway in Penderi, including the launch of a major masterplan aimed at transforming the area, as previously reported when a long-term vision for the community was unveiled.

It also follows significant investment in existing homes, including a groundbreaking energy retrofit scheme that has seen hundreds of properties fitted with solar panels to cut costs and carbon emissions — part of what we reported as the UK’s largest project of its kind.

Codi says the latest proposals are another step in a long-term commitment to the area, where it has been a landlord for more than 30 years.

Development director Claire Tristham said the plans are about more than just housing.

She said: “These proposals add another step in delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes providing comfortable, affordable homes.”

She added: “Regeneration here isn’t short term — it’s a long-term commitment to people, place and opportunity.”

The scheme is still at an early stage, with further consultation expected before any formal planning application is submitted.

But for many in Penplas, the prospect of finally seeing the long-empty supermarket site brought back to life could mark a turning point for the area.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Masterplan launched to transform a Swansea community
The wider vision behind regeneration plans in Penderi.

Contract awarded for largest UK energy retrofit of its kind in Penderi
Major investment has already upgraded hundreds of existing homes in the area.

UK’s largest energy retrofit scheme reaches milestone in Swansea community
Ongoing work to cut energy bills and emissions for local residents.

Latest phase of 7,000-home Cardiff Garden City scheme gets green light https://www.allforgardening.com/1622885/latest-phase-of-7000-home-cardiff-garden-city-scheme-gets-green-light/ #cardiff #ChrisEdge #CodiGroup #EdenstoneGroup #garden #Plasdwr #RhysParry

Latest phase of 7,000-home Cardiff Garden City scheme gets green light https://www.allforgardening.com/1622885/latest-phase-of-7000-home-cardiff-garden-city-scheme-gets-green-light/ #cardiff #ChrisEdge #CodiGroup #EdenstoneGroup #garden #Plasdwr #RhysParry

Major 250‑home Bryncoch development back on the table as new plans revealed

Long‑running scheme re‑emerges

A huge proposal to build a 250‑home estate at Leiros Parc has resurfaced as Codi Group — the new housing association formed from the merger of Pobl and Linc Cymru — opens a fresh round of public consultation.

The 11.8‑hectare site sits above Caewern on a sharp south‑facing slope. It is currently farmland, scrub and a former farmyard, but the new outline plans show one of the largest housing developments proposed in Neath in years.

The scheme includes homes, a small community hub, allotments, play areas, new walking and cycling routes, a bus loop and large areas of public open space.

Years of testing and design work

The Design and Access Statement shows the project has been in development for almost a decade. Site investigations began in 2017, with coal mining risk assessments, soil testing, drainage studies and topographical surveys carried out over several years.

Earlier versions of the layout were drawn up long before Codi Group existed, indicating the scheme has been progressing quietly in the background.

Contaminated soil across the site

One of the most significant findings is the discovery of elevated arsenic levels in the shallow soils across the entire site. The proposed solution is to cap the land with buildings, hardstanding and 600mm of clean imported soil in gardens and landscaped areas.

Coal seams were also identified, but engineers say the risk from old workings is negligible.

Steep terrain shapes the development

The DAS describes the slope as the site’s biggest constraint, with long cross‑sections showing how sharply the land falls away. The terrain dictates the road layout, drainage strategy and the distribution of open space.

Drainage tests show mixed results, meaning the estate will rely heavily on Sustainable Drainage Systems, including swales and soakaways. The scheme will require separate SAB approval alongside planning.

A network of high‑voltage overhead power lines crosses the land and may need to be buried to allow development.

Access, footpaths and green buffers

Access would come from Daphne Road, with a secondary pedestrian, cycle and emergency route from Leiros Parc Drive. A public right of way running through the fields would be retained and linked into new routes.

Large areas of the site are set aside as woodland buffers and “eco‑tone planting”, creating green separation between the homes and surrounding landscape. The plans also include a community park, kick‑about area and several small play spaces.

Allocated housing land with affordability requirement

The land is already allocated for housing under Neath Port Talbot’s Local Development Plan, with a requirement for 25% affordable housing. As a housing association‑led scheme, the final proportion could be higher, though this is not confirmed in the outline documents.

Residents can now comment on the plans through the statutory pre‑application consultation run by Asbri Planning. A full planning application will follow once the consultation closes on 16 February 2026.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Another 95 new homes planned for Pontarddulais farmland
A separate major housing proposal showing continued development pressure across Swansea communities.

Historic Ty Mawr restored into new homes for Pontardawe
A heritage‑led housing scheme highlighting how older sites are being brought back into use.

New homes completed at former student village site in Swansea
A major redevelopment project showing how large‑scale housing is reshaping parts of the city.

New homes to be developed at Ammanford Town Hall
Another example of public‑sector land being converted into new housing across the region.

Former Swansea police station turned into 68‑room homeless accommodation

A Grade II‑listed building once home to Swansea Central Police Station has been completely renovated to provide safe, supported accommodation for people with nowhere else to go.

The site — now known as Llys Glas — includes 68 individual rooms spread across several floors, with shared kitchens, en‑suite bathrooms, communal areas and round‑the‑clock support for residents. Many of those moving in are dealing with health issues or have recently been released from prison.

The project is a partnership between Swansea Council and social housing landlord Codi, formerly known as Pobl. Codi has owned the building since 2003 and had been using it as student accommodation until recently.

The council says the new development will help reduce its heavy reliance on bed and breakfast rooms, which has surged since the pandemic and been made worse by the cost‑of‑living crisis and a shortage of affordable housing across the city.

Grant funding from the Welsh Government has enabled the conversion to go ahead.

Cllr Andrea Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said:

“I’m very impressed with the renovation and the hard work everyone has done to get us to this stage. I also want to thank Welsh Government for providing funding for this development. Without them, this would not have been possible.

“We have a growing number of residents in Swansea who are very much in need of this type of temporary accommodation, where they can get the support they need, along with the reassurance of a safe place to live.

“This will be where many of the tenants can work towards getting themselves in a better and more positive place, preparing for a move into more permanent accommodation and improving their lives.”

Andrew Vye, Executive Director – Customer and Community at Codi, said:

“We have an excellent relationship with Swansea Council, working closely in partnership on key projects right across the city, and are pleased to be able to assist their efforts to the supply of homes for homeless people.

“Housing is at the heart of everything. The security a suitable environment provides can allow those who have experienced homelessness to get back on their feet.

“Homelessness continues to be a challenge across Wales and can impact anyone. We are committed to working in partnership with local authorities to offer solutions.”

The council has opened several new schemes in recent years to ease pressure on emergency accommodation, including 24 units at Ty Tom Jones in partnership with Codi, four temporary pods at Bryn House in Uplands, and family flats in Penlan.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea student block could become homeless accommodation under new plans
A major city centre building could be repurposed to help meet rising demand for temporary housing.

Homeless Swansea artist finds his spark thanks to Business Wales
A local artist rebuilds his life with support that helps him turn creativity into opportunity.

Animal charity teams up with accommodation provider to support homeless dog owners
A new partnership ensures people experiencing homelessness don’t have to give up their pets.

Kind‑hearted local fashion lecturer knits 365 hats for Swansea’s homeless
A year‑long act of generosity provides warmth and support to people living on the streets.

Wales’ biggest housing group gets new name as Linc and Pobl merge to form Codi

The new identity came into force on 1 January 2026, bringing the two major organisations together under one banner and one strategy. The move creates a single not‑for‑profit giant with nearly 25,000 homes, 17,000 people receiving care and support, and more than 3,000 staff across Wales.

A new Welsh housing heavyweight

The merger, first confirmed in June, brings together decades of work by both organisations — including the earlier merger of Swansea‑based Grŵp Gwalia and Newport’s Seren to form Pobl back in 2016.

Codi says its mission is simple: to “rise” to the challenges facing communities across Wales, with the name taken from the Welsh word for “rise”.

The new group says it will use its combined strength to deliver more homes, more support and more long‑term investment in local communities.

Scott Sanders, Group CEO of Codi Group, said:

“The completion of the merger and transition to Codi marks a significant step forward. Codi brings together the strengths and legacies of two strong organisations with shared values and deep community roots, giving us the size and scale to make a real difference while staying local to the communities we work in.

“As an anchor institution in Wales, we have a unique ability to influence and drive real change. Working in partnership with like‑minded organisations, our ambition extends beyond simply building better homes to shaping whole communities.

“Our ability to deliver at scale while staying rooted in local communities is what sets Codi apart and underpins how we approach growth, partnership, and lasting outcomes for our customers.”

£1bn boost and thousands of new homes

Codi says it will contribute £1 billion to the Welsh economy over the next five years, supporting jobs, skills and new developments across the country.

The group also plans to build more than 4,500 new homes, alongside continued investment in existing communities and services.

As a not‑for‑profit organisation, Codi says its focus remains on helping people “live well, feel supported and achieve their full potential”.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Housing associations Pobl Group and Linc Cymru complete merger
Two major Welsh housing associations formally join forces to create a new not‑for‑profit giant.

Drone video shows Swansea’s ‘living building’ rising above city skyline
New drone footage captures dramatic progress on the city’s landmark eco‑friendly development.

Work to begin on 31 affordable homes in Pontlliw despite local opposition
Construction set to start on a new affordable housing scheme following planning approval.

Housing association to increase its maintenance and repairs staffing by 50%
Major recruitment drive aims to speed up repairs and improve services for tenants.