A local resident had tears of joy in her eyes as she this week returned to her fully refurbished home thanks to local housing association, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG).
Mrs Anne Owen has lived in her home in Talybont near Bangor for over 40 years and was overjoyed when she returned to see her house completely transformed into a modern, warm and energy efficient home.
Mrs Owen’s home is one of over 70 prefabricated houses that CCG are improving in a £6 million investment to bring them up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Built in the 1950s the prefabricated homes of Airey constriction were originally built following the Second World War as a quick solution to local housing needs for the short term. However years later many have deteriorated and classed as defective therefore requiring major structural refurbishment.
“They were very cold houses and were very expensive to run as they cost so much to heat. They needed a lot of work” said Mrs Owen.
Due to the nature of their construction, improvements needed to the properties are extensive and include, removing the outer walls before rebuilding them with new well insulated cavity walls, erecting new internal walls, rewiring, insulation, new heating, new bathroom and kitchen as well as new windows and doors and other internal an external improvements. Because of the work needed, tenants are relocated to other homes while the work takes place.
Leaving her home while the work was being done was very emotional for Mrs Owen having lived there for so many years. However, the tears of sadness were replaced by tears of joy as she returned home after being temporary relocated by CCG for nearly 5 months.
“The place looks brilliant,” said Mrs Owen as she unpacked her belongings. “Everything looks great. Not only have they done the house beautifully, they’ve also kept by back garden for me which is lovely. They have also moved the downstairs around which now means I have a large utility area and a kitchen diner which is lovely. Everything just looks brilliant!”
Work on homes at Talybont on the non-traditional properties is one of many areas across the north of Gwynedd receiving work including homes in Tregarth, Deiniolen, Y Groeslon, Rhostryfan, Rhosgadfan, Penisarwaun, Caerhun and Brynrefail. Improvements to the homes is part of larger £136 million investment programme by CCG to improve tenants homes with work set to be completed across the county by March 2015.
Daniel Parry, Assistant Director of Assets at CCG said, “It’s great to hear that Mrs Owen is so happy with her refurbished home. The improvements to these properties are extensive because of the work needed to bring them up to standard. CCG are carrying out the improvements in an unique way by rebuilding the outside walls with the roof still in place before refurbishing all of the house fully. The transformation from the old house to the new energy efficient and modern home is really remarkable and will hopefully save our tenants hundreds of pounds in energy bills every year.”
