200 new affordable homes in Gwynedd for local people

Families have moved into their new affordable homes across Gwynedd marking how we’ve reached the milestone of completion 200 new affordable homes, helping to tackle the housing crisis across north Wales.

As part of our ambitious £198 million development programme to build 1,200 new homes with partners by 2025, we’re also supporting people impacted by COVID across Gwynedd and we have completed 200 new homes in rural and urban areas across the Gwynedd County.

With the high price of second homes in areas such as the Llyn Peninsula inflating prices, local people are being priced out of the market with a lack of housing options.

Our new affordable homes across all tenures have been completed to a high standard and the recent completions in Clwt y Bont, Deiniolen have included air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels working with local contractors to reduce carbon footprints and using Modern Methods of Construction as part of the drive from the Welsh Government for bigger and quicker construction.

As part of our development programme, we are currently working on a further 130 homes out on site in Gwynedd, with more than 200 additional homes in the pipeline across the County.

The new homes have been built in the south of Gwynedd in Aberdyfi, as well as in Dolgellau, Abererch, Bangor, Cricieth and Caernarfon, for either social or affordable rent. We are also developing 28 flats for eligible people in Pwllheli in partnership with Gwynedd Council, which is available to eligible residents from the Llyn Peninsula and its first scheme in the rural town of Bala which will have nine homes.

Our development programme has seen significant growth and has grown working with local contractors such as Gareth Morris Construction, supporting local Small to Medium Enterprises and the local supply chain, generating expenditure locally. Five years ago, our development team had two people in it working on 18 new homes on site, now the development team consists of 12 working on 450 homes on site.

Iwan Trefor Jones, our Deputy Chief Executive is overseeing the development programme. He said:

“We are proud of the growth of our development programme and Adra’s significant investment in Gwynedd. We will be building on this work and will continue to with our wide range of partners to deliver new affordable homes to help to combat the housing crisis.

“We are taking a proactive and positive approach to supporting communities across Gwynedd. There is a huge demand and desperate need for local affordable homes.

“An average of 60% of households in Gwynedd are priced out of the housing market. The aim is to ensure a supply of new affordable housing will be available for young, local people and families, through the houses we are building.

Gwynedd Councillor and Housing Cabinet Member, Craig ab Iago said:

“It is great news for local families and people across Gwynedd that Adra has recently completed 200 new homes across our County, for people who desperately need affordable housing.

“We have a strong partnership with Adra and welcome its commitment to the people of Gwynedd. The lack of housing options for local people is one of the main challenges in Gwynedd today and I am confident that Adra’s growth is making a positive difference to the sustainability of our communities, in terms of local housing, jobs and opportunities.”

Natasha Evans, our customer from Cricieth who lives in one of the 200 new affordable homes said:

“Being born and raised in Cricieth I wanted my own home to raise my family here. The house prices are very expensive so I had to move from the community. I have been able to return to Cricieth by having an affordable home through Adra. I now live close to my friends and family and I have a comfortable home, at an affordable price within a community that’s important to me.”

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA