EditorSWANSEA: 186 homes planned for Penplas – including derelict supermarket site
Plans have been unveiled to build 186 new homes on land in Penplas that has stood derelict for nearly three decades.
The proposals focus on three sites off Milford Way — including the former Leo’s superstore, which has remained vacant since it was demolished in the mid-1990s.
Developers say the scheme could finally bring the long-neglected land back into use, delivering new housing for local families and first-time buyers.
Map showing the three proposed housing sites off Milford Way in Penplas, including the long-derelict former Leo’s supermarket siteThe plans have been submitted to Swansea Council for pre-application consideration by housing association Codi (previously known as Pobl), working in partnership with building firm Morganstone and the local authority.
If approved, the development would form a key part of wider efforts to regenerate the Penderi area, which covers Blaenymaes, Portmead, Penplas and Cadle.
The move comes amid growing demand for housing in Swansea, particularly in established communities where younger generations are struggling to stay close to family.
Local resident Dylan Jones said the plans could help keep communities together.
He said: “New houses are very much needed in this area. People who grow up here naturally want to live near to their parents and friends when they start their own families.”
He added: “We are a proud community, who always look out for each other, and these proposals look like they will also enable those who may want to downsize from family homes as they get older.”
The new homes are expected to be modern and energy efficient, with developers promising lower energy bills and environmentally friendly design.
Plans also include improved green spaces and better links between different parts of the neighbourhood, reflecting feedback from local residents.
The development builds on wider regeneration work already underway in Penderi, including the launch of a major masterplan aimed at transforming the area, as previously reported when a long-term vision for the community was unveiled.
It also follows significant investment in existing homes, including a groundbreaking energy retrofit scheme that has seen hundreds of properties fitted with solar panels to cut costs and carbon emissions — part of what we reported as the UK’s largest project of its kind.
Homes in Penderi fitted with solar panels as part of a major energy retrofit scheme already underway in the area(Image: Codi)
Codi says the latest proposals are another step in a long-term commitment to the area, where it has been a landlord for more than 30 years.
Development director Claire Tristham said the plans are about more than just housing.
She said: “These proposals add another step in delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes providing comfortable, affordable homes.”
She added: “Regeneration here isn’t short term — it’s a long-term commitment to people, place and opportunity.”
The scheme is still at an early stage, with further consultation expected before any formal planning application is submitted.
But for many in Penplas, the prospect of finally seeing the long-empty supermarket site brought back to life could mark a turning point for the area.
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UK’s largest energy retrofit scheme reaches milestone in Swansea community
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