Pobl Group has chosen Lovell as its preferred partner to deliver a design and build scheme for 123 new homes on the former Caerphilly County Borough Council office site in Pontllanfraith.
The scheme includes a mix of 40 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes for open market sale, 40 affordable shared ownership homes and 43 affordable homes for social rent.
The land was owned by Caerphilly County Borough Council, which has played a pivotal role in the partnership.
The development – which will be known as Chartist Garden Village – has been designed around the principles of a Garden Village, which combines traditional design with meticulous contemporary craftmanship, enabling homeowners to benefit from enhanced space and surrounding landscapes of street trees, grass verges, a pond and public open green spaces.
Garden Villages share a historical foundation of enhancing communities through industry and employment, with developers seeking to create well designed, vibrant and healthy places with affordable housing.
The Chartist movement is a key part of local history, with Blackwood one of the centres of its organisation. It was also one of the key meeting points the men took en route from Tredegar to Newport. One of the leaders of the movement, Zephaniah Williams, was also a local man.
In recent years a commemorative bridge and statue have also been erected in Blackwood to mark the importance of the town in the Chartist movement.
Lovell was awarded the contract due to its ability to deliver high quality homes whilst adhering to robust health and safety standards, and is set to begin construction work next month (February 2022).
Regional managing director at Lovell, James Duffett, said: ‘We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver these much-needed homes in Pontllanfraith, and it is a huge pleasure to continue our working partnership with Pobl after delivering an award-winning scheme together in Newport, Loftus Garden Village.’
Cllr Shayne Cook, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for social care and housing, said: ‘The council is committed to delivering high-quality affordable housing to help meet demand within the county borough and we’re delighted that two thirds of the homes on this development have been allocated as affordable. This will not only help meet the ever-increasing demand we’re seeing for social housing, but also enable first time buyers to get a step on the property ladder.”
Ellis Cunliffe, project manager at Pobl Group said: ‘It’s fantastic to see this exciting development get underway. We’re proud to be collaborating with Caerphilly County Borough Council and Lovell on this project to deliver high quality, affordable homes, evidence of Pobl’s commitment to delivering affordable living solutions where they are needed across Wales. We look forward to completion of this development in Summer 2024.’