An award-winning housing association has been hailed as a shining example to the rest of Wales.
Cartrefi Conwy is blazing a trail with a massive £30 million housing improvement programme.
They are on schedule to meet the Welsh Government’s new housing quality standards by the end of 2012.
The work involves, where necessary, internal refits including the installation of new bathrooms and kitchens and rewiring as well as new heating systems and doors and windows.
The news about Cartrefi Conwy’s success comes on the heels of a critical report from the Auditor General for Wales, Huw Vaughan Thomas, about the lack of progress elsewhere in Wales.
Ken Finch, Strategic Director at Conwy County Borough Council, said: “We have worked very closely with Cartrefi Conwy since they took over responsibility for the housing stock and we are very confident they will achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by the end of 2012.
“They are one of the very few housing associations on course to meet the target and that’s something they can be proud of. They are a shining example to the rest of Wales.
“Cartrefi Conwy has been able to access additional funding that would not have been available to the Council and has embarked on a £30 million housing improvement programme which is bringing great benefits to the tenants.”
Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive Andrew Bowden said: “We have devoted a great deal of energy to delivering the housing quality standards and linking that with best practice in procurement and social inclusion.”
He added that Cartrefi Conwy had insisted in awarding contracts for the improvement work that there should be a commitment to using local labour and sourcing materials from local firms.
They had also involved local social inclusion co-operative Crest – to recycle the old materials from the renovated properties and that had been hugely successful:
“Ninety eight per cent of what is being taken out of the houses is being recycled and that’s a phenomenal success rate,” he said.
The ongoing partnership with Crest Cooperative alone has already provided more than 270 training placements for local people.
In addition the improvement programme is creating apprenticeships and employment locally for heating engineers, plumbers, plasterers and joiners through great collaboration work with contractors and local college Llandrillo.
According to Pam Lonie, the Chair of Cartrefi Conwy, the last three and half years, since the housing association was formed, had been “momentous”.
She said: “We are delivering on our promises and the improvement programme is bang on schedule.
”We have conducted surveys with our tenants to check that they’re happy with the work and the way it’s being done.
“The satisfaction rate with our three main contractors is over 90 per cent.
“It is fantastic that our tenants are actually benefiting on a number of levels – from visual improvement, better insulation of properties and greater security due to the new ‘secure by design’ doors.
“I think that it is down to engaging with our tenants in the first place – they helped us select the contractors, the components, the new kitchens and bathrooms and the colours.
“I would also like to pay credit to our Neighbourhood Coordinators and the Tenant Liaison Officers.
“I think the key is keeping the tenants informed at all times on what is going to happen to the property, when it’s going to happen, what trade is coming into the property, when they’re going to be finished.
“When you actually meet the tenant after the work has been done, they are over the moon and particularly proud of their home improvements.”
