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.

Swansea shopkeeper jailed after £45k stash of illegal vapes found hidden in toilet and bed

Illegal haul uncovered in High Street shop

Trading Standards raided Snoop Vape Store on Swansea’s High Street in July last year, finding a “significant amount” of illegal tobacco and oversized disposable vapes. Some were concealed in a hidden compartment inside the shop, while others were discovered behind a secret panel in the toilet.

Officers seized 52 packets of illegal cigarettes and 714 disposable vapes during the initial search.

Flat search reveals even bigger stash

Investigators later located Arif’s flat in Griffith John Street, where they found an even larger cache: 1,353 packets of illegal tobacco, 468 illegal vapes and £1,690 in cash. Some of the stock had been hidden in the base of a bed.

Prosecutors said the total value of the illegal products was just under £45,000, with some vapes containing liquid reservoirs up to 20 times the legal limit.

Judge: ‘The seriousness cannot be overstated’

Judge Huw Rees, sentencing at Swansea Crown Court, said the sale of unlawful tobacco and vapes was an increasing problem across the UK and warned that the seriousness of the issue “cannot be overstated”. He said Arif’s operation showed clear planning and sophistication.

Arif, who came to the UK from Iraq in 2020, told the court he had been motivated by a desire to send money home to his ill mother. His barrister said he had found six months on remand “isolating” due to his limited English.

The court also heard Arif had previously worked in a Lincolnshire shop that was issued with a closure notice in January 2025 after illegal tobacco and vapes were found there.

Police: ‘These products are unsafe’

PC James Rees, South Wales Police, said:

“The issue of vape shops selling illegal e‑cigarettes and tobacco is one that we are working hard alongside Trading Standards in order to address in Swansea city centre.

These illegal products are unsafe and can cause significant health risks to those unsuspecting people who purchase these products from shops which knowingly operate in contradiction to the law.

Halkawt Arif played his part in that, and for that it is right that he is going to prison.”

Judge Rees ordered the forfeiture and destruction of all seized items. Arif will serve up to half his 16‑month sentence in custody before being released on licence. The judge noted he may be liable for deportation, but said that decision rests with the Home Office.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Taibach vape shop shut down after selling illegal cigarettes and vapes
Trading Standards close another premises after uncovering illicit tobacco and oversized vapes.

Council wins vape shop closure order
A court grants a closure order following reports of illegal vape sales to young people.

Illegal disposable vapes seized from Neath Port Talbot shops
Hundreds of banned single‑use vapes removed from local stores in a joint operation.

Nine Swansea vape shops shut down in major crackdown on illegal sales
A city‑wide enforcement sweep sees multiple shops closed over illicit products.

Police dispersal order to target Dyfatty antisocial behaviour

Police say that a Section 35 dispersal order has been put in place in the area of Griffith John Street in Swansea, following issues with anti-social behaviour and other offences in recent weeks.

They say an increased policing presence will be visible in the area over the coming days.

Inspector Andrew Hedley from South Wales Police said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour anywhere in the force area, but over the last couple of weeks this has become a notable problem in this area in particular.

“This is causing undue distress on the many law-abiding residents living within the area. A good number of those committing the anti-social behaviour do not live in the area.

“Our officers will attend the area and will act swiftly to disrupt any form of anti-social behaviour that they see.”

CCTV systems were recently upgraded at the council-owned flats at Griffith John Street in a bid to tackle antisocial behaviour.

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