200 low-carbon council homes to be built for elderly in Cardiff

A new development of 200 low carbon homes for the elderly in Cardiff will be completed by the summer of 2024 the council has confirmed.

The Aspen Grove estate has benefitted from £4m of funding from the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme (IHP) and support from the Cardiff Living programme, a partnership between Cardiff Council and Wates Residential.

There will be 65 new council homes built, including a mix of 21 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, as well as a four-storey block containing 44 one- and two-bedroom apartments designed for older people.

The Addison House block is the first of 10 ‘Community Living’ developments planned to be built across the city as part of Cardiff Council’s Older Persons’ housing strategy.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: ‘These apartments are a key part of our plan to deliver 4,000 new council homes in Cardiff – the most of any council in Wales.

‘They – and the other properties on this site – will make a huge impact on the standard of housing in the city and the apartments will provide an opportunity for council tenants whose families have grown up and left home to downsize, freeing up homes for families who are on the waiting list.

‘They also sit perfectly within our strategy to be a carbon-neutral city by 2030 and embody the council’s Stronger, Fairer, Greener commitment, announced recently by the leader.’

Four flats will be made wheelchair accessible, with two also having additional adaptations, such as ‘rise and fall’ kitchen units.

Addison House will also offer a range of communal spaces, such as two lounges, a roof terrace overlooking the Bristol Channel, a medical room and a large communal garden and guest suite.

Each property will also be made energy efficient, with ground-source heat pumps, underfloor heating, smart hot water cylinders, solar panels, battery storage, electric vehicle charging points.

They will also have a sustainable energy management system provided by Sero which acts independent od the National Grid at peak times, reducing energy bills.

Suds (sustainable urban drainage systems) will be places on pavements and driveways around the estate too, while trees planted will provide shade in hot weather.

143 of the homes will be sold privately by Wates, while six will be offered on a shared equity basis via First Homes Cardiff, with 70% paid by the buyer and 30% of the shares held by Cardiff Council.

Photo by Mike Erskine