Swansea Council announce major investment in housing improvements

£50m is set to be invested in building repairs, maintenance and improvements to hundreds of homes across the city this year.

The funding will be used to insulate and weatherproof existing homes, in order to make them warm and energy efficient, as well as introduce environmental improvements in tenants’ communities.

The Council will also be trialling the introduction of renewable technologies in selected properties as part of its aims to more homes more efficient, reduce household costs and reduce carbon emissions.

The spending is part of the biggest ever investment in council-owned homes for affordable rent in the city, as part of plans to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Andrea Lewis, cabinet member for climate change and service transformation, said: ‘Despite the pandemic we have continued with our home improvement programmes because better homes improve people’s health, affordable homes that are energy efficient help reduce poverty and together they contribute to happier communities.

‘Over the last few years there has been a huge investment worth hundreds of millions of pounds into making sure the homes we own are in good shape and fit for the future under the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

‘In the coming year further investment of an estimated £50m will mean hundreds of families will benefit from improvements to their homes.’

Funding for new homes and the upgrades for existing homes is coming from the rents paid by tenants, Welsh government grants and HRA borrowing.

The plans follow major investment in new kitchens and bathrooms for Council owned properties, which has already improved over 9,500 homes.

In related news, Tower Hamlets Council has given the green light to an affordable housing scheme at Stroudley Walk in Poplar.

Photo by Erik Mclean