SWANSEA: Council to invest nearly £70m in council homes this year—part of £267m four-year plan

Millions of pounds are being earmarked to insulate and weatherproof hundreds of existing homes, making them warmer and more efficient to help reduce the cost of heating for tenants.

The spending is part of the biggest ever investment in council-owned homes for affordable rent in the city, which will see £267 million spent over the next four years.

Where the Money Is Going

Among the major projects planned for spending this year are:

£40 million is being spent on keeping council homes in communities across the city in a good state of repair, including Penyrheol, Fforesthall, Penlan, Sketty, Mayhill, and Townhill.

Within the £40m, £17 million is being set aside for more upgrades at the Dyfatty flats at Croft Street, Griffith John Street, and Clyne and Jeffreys Court.

More than £12.7 million is planned for spending on the council’s pioneering More Homes initiative, which aims to add 1,000 affordable homes for rent to its existing stock. This includes new homes being built at Brokesby Road and £1.5m for acquisitions.

More than £1.2 million will be spent on improving homes at Heol Emrys and Tudno Place, with funding also earmarked for future years to develop more affordable homes, providing estate and environmental improvements.

More than £1.8 million is going on the council’s continuing programme of improving kitchens and bathrooms.

More than £3.6 million is being spent on environmental improvements in places like Garnswllt, Townhill, West Cross, and Fforesthall.

‘Better Homes for Our Residents’

Andrea Williams, Cabinet Member for Service Improvement, said Swansea Council’s ambitious spending programme for council housing reflected its commitment to providing high-quality homes that are energy-efficient and affordable for tenants.

Cllr Andrea Williams said:

“Better homes for our residents are one of the critical building blocks of creating a better future for children, for families and for our city. They improve people’s health and affordable homes that are energy efficient help reduce poverty and together they contribute to happier communities.”

She added:

“Over the last few years there has been a huge investment worth hundreds of millions of pounds into making sure the homes we own are in good shape and fit for the future under the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. In the coming year further investment of an estimated £69m will mean hundreds of families will benefit from improvements to their homes. Money is being earmarked for other projects including electrical re-wiring and weather-proofing where needed as well as general environmental improvements.”

Supporting Local Jobs

Cllr Williams said the council’s housing projects support hundreds of local jobs and apprenticeships, so it’s a “win-win” for local communities.

Funding for the new homes and the upgrades for existing homes is coming from the rents paid by tenants, Welsh Government grants, and HRA borrowing. None of the spending is from council tax.

Major makeover for more than 100 council flats in Swansea’s Croft Street

Tenants living in two high‑rise blocks and two low‑rise buildings in Dyfatty will see their homes upgraded inside and out. Swansea Council say the work will include new kitchens, bathrooms, fire‑safety improvements and insulation designed to help cut energy bills.

The scheme forms part of the council’s £55m housing investment programme for the current financial year. Swansea Council say the project is funded entirely through tenant rents and Welsh Government grants, with no contribution from council tax.

£500m already spent on upgrades — and more to come

The authority says Croft Street is the latest phase in a long‑running effort to modernise its housing stock. Over the last decade, Swansea Council say they have invested more than £500m in tenants’ homes, with another £250m planned over the next five years.

Cllr Andrea Williams, Joint Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said the council was confident residents would see a real difference once the work is complete.

Cllr Williams said:

We know there will be some disruption, but our contractors will do all they can to keep it to a minimum and keep tenants informed every step of the way.

New lifts, CCTV and safer communal areas

As well as improvements inside homes, the blocks will receive new lifts, windows, CCTV and upgraded entrances. Swansea Council say communal areas will be fitted with additional safety measures, and the surrounding environment will be improved with new lighting, landscaping, fencing and paths.

A row of garages has already been demolished to create more parking bays. Several small retail units facing High Street will also be refurbished as part of the wider scheme.

Ground‑floor space turned into new homes

One of the biggest changes will see the ground‑floor areas of the high‑rise blocks — previously used for offices and storage — converted into new homes. Swansea Council say this will increase the supply of affordable housing in the city centre and make better use of underused space.

The new accessible flats form part of the council’s ‘More Homes‘ plan, which aims to deliver 1,000 new council homes by 2031. So far, 309 have been added through new builds, buy‑backs and conversions, all built to the council’s ‘Swansea Standard‘ for insulation and energy efficiency.

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Tenants in the Croft Street flats on High Street and the low-rise homes next door are set to benefit from a multi-million pound upgrade that will see their homes refurbished inside and out.

Swansea Council say it is putting the finishing touches to the scheme that will see new kitchens, bathrooms and fire prevention equipment in every home as well as state-of-the art security and attractive weather-proofing for the buildings outside.

Work is expected to start later this year and when it’s finished residents will see their homes looking similar to upgrades already completed in Matthew Street nearby.

The home improvements will be funded entirely from rents paid by council tenants and Welsh Government grants. None of it comes from the council tax.

Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Joint Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for service transformation, said: “Over the last decade or so we’ve committed more than £500m to upgrading our tenants’ homes and building new ones to help tackle the housing crisis.

“Over the next five years we’ll be spending another £250m improving people’s homes and building more -energy efficient homes to increase the supply of council housing.

“It is all part of Swansea Council’s continuing commitment to tenants to improve their homes, reduce energy costs and help them through the cost of living crisis.” 

She said: “Work is due to start on Croft Street as part of £55m of housing investment this year and the project is expected to take around 18 months. Upgrading and re-fitting people’s homes so that they’re fit for the 21st century and the years ahead is a complex job.”

When Croft Street is done, planning and construction teams will start work at Griffith John Street to complete the refurbishment of all the flats in the Dyfatty community.

There are two high-rise blocks of flats and two low-rise blocks in Croft Street of more than 100 homes. The upgrade project includes plans to spruce up the local environment and refurbish a small number of retail units facing High Street. A row of garages on Croft Street will be retained as well.

All homes and communal areas will have fire-prevention sprinkler systems fitted alongside other safety measures. There will also be improvements to thermal insulation to help reduce tenants’ energy use and energy bills.

Entry doors will be controlled by tenants and staff using fob key systems and there will also be video call access control as a further security measure to support tenants.

Cllr Lewis said: “Our tenants in Matthew Street have welcomed the changes completed to their homes.

“While it is inevitable there will be some disruption for tenants for a project of this size and complexity, our contractors will be doing all they can to keep it to the minimum possible and residents will be kept informed of progress at every stage. 

But we’re confident that when complete, residents will be proud of what’s been achieved.”

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

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