Our innovative new housing pilot of four mews-style homes, designed specifically for under 35 year olds in Caldicot, has been jointly showcased this month by Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) and the Welsh School of Architecture (WSoA)
Over 100 guests visited the show-home including; local people, Councillors, Welsh Government and potential tenants were welcomed across the threshold to view this visionary housing concept.
Cwrt Llwyfen, located on the site of disused garages on Elm Road, was the vision of Chief Executive John Keegan, brought to life by Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Architecture and funded by the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Fund.
John Keegan, Chief Executive, MHA said: “The demand for affordable housing continues to be a massive problem in Monmouthshire, and thanks to the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Fund, we have been able to deliver four highly desirable homes, uniquely tailored to deliver on the aspirations of those aged under 35”.
“Cwrt Llwyfen is a very special development, and to have the ringing endorsement from such a wide range of guests has been terrific. In the coming years MHA will seek to work on the design further and develop these types of properties across the county”.
MHA explored the ‘wants and needs’ of young people by commissioning an independent survey to test the market through interviews, focus groups and telephone surveys. The results showed ‘start-ups’ aspired to have a spacious two storey modern, mews-style home.
Cwrt Llwyfen’s designer Professor Wayne Forster said “It was an absolute delight to be involved in this pilot and particularly satisfying to be able to see our design realised by MHA’s own Building Services Team. The eco-friendly designs have been specifically tailored for a younger demographic, with extra space and volume to potentially expand into”.
“Cwrt Llwyfen also features a large bedroom with en-suite and a mezzanine office area, overlooking a very generous open plan, light filled living and dining space. Large French doors lead from the lounge onto a sizeable private patio area.”
“The homes have state of the art monitoring including a weather station, internal environmental meter and have been built to be highly sustainable and energy efficient, with a SAP rating in excess of 100”
Councillor Bob Greenland, MCC Cabinet Member for Planning said:
“Monmouthshire County Council are delighted to be working in partnership on this fantastic project with MHA and Welsh School of Architecture, to trial the delivery of innovative housing with the help of Welsh Government funding”.
“Schemes such as these will disrupt for the better, the way the housing market has traditionally been delivered. The new homes will enable the council and MHA to provide good quality affordable housing to help our young people live in the county they love, while utilising constrained brownfield sites. The quality of the homes is to be commended and we look forward to building on the successes with further developments across the county.”
The new homes have been allocated through Monmouthshire Homesearch allocations system, with priority given to people under the age of 35, in full time employment.
