#housingassociation — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

Editor @[email protected] · 2026-03-26 · 09:50 UTC

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.

Map showing the three proposed housing sites off Milford Way in Penplas, including the long-derelict former Leo’s supermarket site

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.

Homes in Penderi fitted with solar panels as part of a major energy retrofit scheme already underway in the area
(Image: Codi)

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.

#BlaenYMaes #Cadle #Codi #CodiGroup #Fforestfach #housingAssociation #LeoSSupermarket #MilfordWay #Morganstone #newHomes #Penplas #Pobl #regeneration #socialHousing #Swansea

#blaenymaes #cadle #codi #codigroup #fforestfach #housingassociation

Editor @[email protected] · 2026-02-17 · 11:18 UTC

MS warns against ‘fear and lies’ over Stebonheath housing plan

The Labour MS said the claim, being shared by the “far‑right group” Voice of Wales, is “not true” and is not supported by any of the documents submitted to Carmarthenshire County Council.

In a Facebook post, Mr Waters said a respected housing association is working with a local developer “to turn the empty old Stebonheath School in Llanelli into small flats for local people to have a home – especially single parents currently living in B&Bs”.

He accused Voice of Wales of “trying to stir up trouble” and “spreading lies that the plan is for asylum seekers”, adding in capital letters: “THIS IS NOT TRUE.”

He said he understood that some residents would prefer the old school not to be developed, but insisted the application “should be decided by facts and by planning law, not by fear, division and lies”.

A second view of the former Stebonheath School site in Llanelli, now vacant and proposed for redevelopment into affordable flats.
(Image: Google Maps)

What the plans actually say

The application, reference PL/10217, seeks permission to convert the former Stebonheath Primary School building into 21 affordable homes. Planning documents state that 20 flats would be created in the main building and one in an attached cottage.

The Design and Access Statement, submitted by Caredig housing association and Swansea‑based Castell Group, says the scheme would provide 11 one‑bedroom flats and 10 two‑bedroom flats. It describes the development as “100% affordable housing” to be managed by a Registered Social Landlord and notes that the building has been vacant since mid‑2024 after efforts to find new commercial tenants failed.

The document sets the proposal firmly in the context of local housing need and Welsh Government policy for the Swansea Bay and Llanelli growth area. It refers to national planning guidance that encourages new homes in accessible locations close to jobs, schools and services. Nowhere in the application or supporting papers is there any reference to asylum accommodation.

Mr Waters said that across Wales “3,000 children [are] living in bed and breakfasts today… because they are on the waiting list for a home”, and highlighted a particular shortage of one‑ and two‑bedroom flats for councils to use. He argued that converting the long‑empty building into small flats for local people is one way of easing that pressure.

Voice of Wales’ record in the area

Voice of Wales has been active around contentious issues in south‑west Wales for several years. Swansea Bay News has previously reported that group co‑founder Dan Morgan received a suspended jail sentence for an insurance scam, and that the group urged parents to boycott a Llanelli school’s mosque visit in Swansea, prompting widespread criticism.

We have also covered disputes where the group was involved in claims about religion lessons at a Swansea primary school which the council later moved to correct, and a racism row linked to Cinema & Co in which the group denied allegations made against it. During the 2023 row over Home Office plans to use Llanelli’s Stradey Park Hotel for asylum seekers, Voice of Wales appeared at protests and Mr Waters has previously said members used aggressive language towards politicians and campaigners.

The group has consistently rejected accusations of racism and has defended its activities in past controversies.

Residents urged to check the portal

The Stebonheath application sits within a wider Welsh Government strategy that identifies Swansea Bay and Llanelli as a national growth area where new homes and investment are encouraged. The planning statement argues the site is well placed for walking, cycling and public transport, with schools, shops and employment within easy reach.

Mr Waters has encouraged residents to look at the plans themselves on Carmarthenshire County Council’s online planning portal by searching for application PL/10217, rather than relying on social media claims.

He said the future of the former school should be decided “by facts and by planning law”, not by those seeking to “stir up trouble” over what the development is for.

#asylumAccommodation #asylumSeekers #Caredig #CastellGroup #flats #housingAssociation #LeeWatersMS #Llanelli #socialHousing #StebonheathSchool #VoiceOfWales

#voiceofwales #asylumaccommodation #asylumseekers #caredig #castellgroup #flats

Editor @[email protected] · 2026-01-20 · 13:08 UTC

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.

#AffordableHousing #Bryncoch #Caewern #CodiGroup #DaphneRoad #housingAssociation #LeirosParc #LeirosParcDrive #Neath #newHomes #planningApplication #PlanningPermission #Pobl

#affordablehousing #bryncoch #caewern #codigroup #daphneroad #housingassociation

Editor @[email protected] · 2026-01-08 · 12:24 UTC

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.

#careSupport #CodiGroup #GrŵpGwalia #housingAssociation #LincCymru #newHomes #Pobl #Seren #socialHousing

#caresupport #codigroup #grwpgwalia #housingassociation #linccymru #newhomes

Tilda Moose, citizen @[email protected] · 2025-08-02 · 17:13 UTC

I fucking hate paying #rent so much.

People who are not me have taken well over £100,000 from me over the last 40 years. Imagine what I could have done with that sort of money by now.

I fucking hate that it's my fault if I can't bear to prostitute myself long and hard enough to raise this sort of money any more, to appease those who own it all.

Brothers and sisters, what are we to do?

#RentIsTooHigh
#HousingCoop
#HousingAssociation

#rent #rentistoohigh #housingcoop #housingassociation

Mark @[email protected] · 2024-04-15 · 18:00 UTC

Create a new body to regulate service charges for residential property

We want the Government to create a new body that is empowered to monitor and regulate private, council, and housing association service charges, and impose meaningful penalties for unfair or unreasonable service charges.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/659647

#Housing #association #HousingAssociation #charges #ServiceCharges #home #residence #property #Home #purchase #buy