Wrexham’s first new council home for 30 years completed

The first council house development to have been built in Wrexham in 30 years has been completed.

The 14 homes, which are located on the former Nant Silyn care home site in Caia Park, have already been allocated to tenants – with some already occupied.

Work started on the site during winter 2019 and is was completed this year.

It is the first time that new council homes has been built in Wrexham County Borough since 1991.

The development consists of 8 x1 bed apartments, 4×2 bed houses, 1x 2 bed fully adapted bungalow and 1×1 bed older person’s bungalow.

Each home has up to date with Fibre broadband available for connection by tenants and the new build houses and bungalows also have solar panels and battery storage to support lower energy costs.

A 2 bedroom fully adapted bungalow has been fitted to specific tenants needs and will provide a level access shower room and a rise and fall kitchen.

Resident Miss J who is moving into a fully adapted bungalow, specially designed for her needs, said: “It’s incredible, I’ve watched it being built from day one, everyone has been so good with me, I have been included from the start, so I know it’s going to cater for my physical needs.

“This is life changing for me, I have a four year old son and it means that I can be more independent with him, I cannot wait.”

Resident Miss G, who is downsizing said: “I cannot wait to move into my new property, I have been rattling around my 3 bedroom house of years and paying bedroom tax.

“I’m so excited, it’s going to make a huge difference for me.”

The 14 home Smithfield Ward development is the start of Wrexham Council’s building projects, with work having already begun at Plas Madoc.

The local authority also have two further schemes with planning permission in place that includes 6 x 1 bedroom apartments in Johnstown and 4 x 1 bedroom apartments to the rear of Tir y Capel in Llay. This will form part of a Sheltered Refurbishment and Re-modelling project, alongside further scoping work for future development underway.

Cllr David Griffiths, Lead Member for Housing said: “I’m more than pleased with the quality. This is setting the standard for everything else. Wrexham has stepped up to the challenge, and the people who have benefitted are the people in the community.”

Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard said: “As leader of Wrexham Council I’m delighted to see the Clos Nant Silyn development kick off our home building programme alongside our continuous commitment to refurbish our older housing stock.

“Earlier this year the Council’s Executive Board met and approved the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan that will see Wrexham Council investing £58.9 million into the Council housing stock of over 11,000 properties throughout the 2021-22 financial year.”

Cllr David Bithell Lead Member of Health and Adult Social Care said: “It’s fantastic to see this project come to fruition. This is just part of our ongoing commitment is to provide homes that are well managed, decent and warm, with modern facilities, and which provide lifetime homes for our tenants.”

Smithfield County Cllr Adrienne Jeorrett, added: “I am really amazed by the quality, I am so delighted. Everybody has the right to a good home. The whole thing is brilliant, and happening now here, excellent!”