Lynne Neagle MS and Cllr David Daniels, Torfaen Council’s Executive Member for Adult Services & Housing, visited Bron Afon’s newest independent living development, Glanwern House in Pontypool.
The ten new homes are a mix of one-bedroom flats, two-bedroom houses and a three-bedroom house. They are all energy efficient and built to EPC A, featuring non-fossil fuel infra-red panels and an air source hot water system.
The scheme received support from Welsh Government via Social Housing (SHG) and Optimised retrofit Programme (ORP) along with an interest free loan from Innovative Housing Programme (IHP). It is the first intergenerational scheme created by Bron Afon.
Our chief executive Alan Brunt said:
“We believe that everyone should have a place they are proud to call home. We wanted to create homes and spaces which meet residents needs and we collaborated closely with our existing tenants to design the refurbishment of the current independent living building.
“We replaced windows overlooking the gardens with patio doors on the ground floor for easy access to the communal gardens, and installed balconies on upstairs floors, bringing the outside into residents’ personal space and making it easy for neighbours to interact and enjoy the lovely grounds surrounding the homes.”
“It’s fantastic to see residents settled in their homes, enjoying the outdoor spaces and facilities that are a positive addition to this new community.”
A new community hub replaces the old communal lounge and is accessible to everyone living in the independent living schemes and the new homes. It is designed to support and encourage intergenerational living, where families and community groups can come together in a great shared space.
Lynne Neagle MS said,
“It’s wonderful to see a housing design which promotes independent living and is centred around wellbeing and community. Families and community groups can come together in a great shared space and be part of a welcoming and friendly community of like-minded individuals.”
Cllr David Daniels added,
“It was a pleasure to meet the residents at Glanwern House. Developments like this provide much-needed affordable options for local residents. I’m pleased to see the energy efficiency of the new builds, ensuring that they are not just affordable for people to rent, but also will be more affordable to run.”