(l-r): Daniel Parry, Senior Contracts Manager (CCG), Aled Roberts AM, Ffrancon Williams CCG Chief Executive visiting Cae Gwigin
Regional Assembly Member for North Wales, Aled Roberts, returned to Gwynedd this week for a second visit to see the variety of homes being refurbished as part of a multi million pound investment programme by housing association, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG).
This is Mr Roberts’s second visit this year to see work carried out by CCG as part of their Welsh Housing Quality Standard improvement programme which will see nearly 6,300 of the housing associations properties being refurbished by the end of March 2015.
Following his previous visit to see homes being improved in Caernarfon, Mr Roberts was interested in seeing how CCG are refurbishing non-traditional properties across the county.
The non-traditional homes, a type of prefabricated house, were built following the Second World War, however many now require major construction work. Due to the nature of their construction, improvements needed to the properties are extensive and include, in some cases, removing the outer walls before rebuilding them in block. Because of the work needed, tenants are relocated to temporary homes while the improvements are being done.
CCG has 80 non-traditional properties and are currently in the middle of a major refurbishment programme to ensure they all meet the standard. To see the difference and the extent of the work that go into improving these homes Mr Roberts visited three estates. They include Erw Faen in Tregarth where work will begin to improve the homes during the summer, Cae Gwigin in Talybont where work is currently being carried out and Caerhun where improvements work was finished last summer.
CCG Chief Executive Ffrancon Williams said; “It’s great to be able to welcome back Mr Roberts to see how we are improving non-traditional properties in Gwynedd as part of our improvement programme. Work on the properties take around six months to be done, during this time, tenants are temporary relocated to another home. We understand that having to move to another home during the work is an upheaval and disruptive and we would like to thank our tenants for their co-operation. These homes require major construction work but the results are fantastic, tenants are left with a more energy efficient, modern and secure home.”
Major refurbishment projects like these also brings with them training and apprenticeship opportunities in addition to CCGs internal and external improvements project. As a result, CCGs non-traditional property project alone has created 5 apprentices and trainees to learn scaffolding and bricklaying skills in addition to 21 employment opportunities for experienced workers.
Ffrancon Williams added; “Offering young local people a range of apprenticeships and training opportunities has played a major part in our improvement programme from the beginning and so far over 60 apprentices and trainees have worked on the scheme. This has ensured that when the current improvement programme comes to an end there will be a lasting legacy of trained and skilled workers within Gwynedd.”
Aled Roberts, North Wales Regional Assembly Member said; “After my first visit to see how CCG are transforming their properties to create better homes for their tenants I wanted to return to see how they go about the major work of improving non-traditional homes. With the Welsh Government setting a target to ensure all social housing meets the Welsh Housing Quality Standard it’s great to see first hand how this work is progressing and what issues they face with such large scale projects. As well as seeing how tenants’ homes are being improved it’s also great to see the opportunities the project presents for employment, training and apprenticeships to community benefits and environmental improvements.”
