Council sets 1,000 new ‘low energy’ homes target

Swansea Council has pledged to build 1,000 new ‘low energy’ council homes over the next few years.The plans have been approved by cabinet as part of the ongoing More Homes project which is already underway in Swansea.The local authority intends to develop further plans to invest about £180m to add an additional 1,000 homes to its existing housing stock.A total of 34 new homes are already being developed in two communities in Swansea, including Birchgrove and Blaenymaes.In 2017, the council completed the first phase of a new batch of modern, energy efficient ‘Passivhaus’ homes at Colliers Way.Alongside the plans to build more council homes, the council will also continue to support other registered social landlords in Swansea, who between them are planning to develop 4,000 new homes over the next ten years.Plans have also recently been submitted for 26 new homes at Hill View/Beacons View – Clase, where construction could start in the spring.Additional funding for the new homes has also been secured from the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme scheme and Swansea received £1.5m in the latest settlement.