Community housing project proposed for Gower village

Fed up with the idea of not being able to afford homes in the area they live and work, six local families have come together to build what has been described as permanently affordable, low impact, climate positive, beautiful houses in a community-led project that will provide space for the residents, wider neighbourhood and environment to thrive.  

The scheme, located on a six-acre site in Bishopston, is expected to cost £2.4m.

The group say there is a significant need for more affordable housing across Gower. Swansea Council has identified the need for 500 new affordable houses spread between the Gower and Gower Fringe areas in its Local Housing Strategy 2015-2020.  Of these only 93 have been built with a further 109 proposed, leaving a shortfall of 298 affordable houses. 

Gŵyr Community Land Trust (Gŵyr CLT), which established itself in November 2020, is multi-generational, including young couples, families with children, single-persons and includes families with additional needs. Gŵyr CLT’s membership is made up of people who live and/or work in the local community. 

It believes that the people who will make the best decisions about the design of housing are the community in which the housing will be built, including those who will be living there. The consultation will run from 12 June to 31 August 2023 to share information about the project and gather the views of the community in line with that belief.

The proposal comprises 14 genuinely affordable shared-ownership 2-3 bedroom houses, 2 genuinely affordable shared-ownership older persons bungalows and a site to support a co-housing community, wildlife and truly sustainable living.

Gŵyr CLT says its innovative plan will guarantee affordability by retaining 100% freehold of the site and houses in perpetuity and is an asset locked organisation with legal restrictions to ensure that these houses are never allowed onto the open market.  Shared-ownership home owners will be able to purchase between 15-65% of the lease of their home.  The 65% cap is based on ensuring affordability for average local household incomes.

The highly sustainable houses will be designed to be built naturally, low carbon and highly energy efficient, meaning that their running costs will be much lower than the majority of new build properties.  This will further reduce the overall cost for residents.  In addition to the six current member households who are working hard to turn this project into a reality, 8 new families from the local area will be eligible to apply for membership and residency.

The consultation will be run in-person over 3 dates, in combination with an online form, hosted on Gŵyr CLT’s website: www.gwyrcommunitylandtrust.org

Cllr. Lyndon Jones MBE, Councillor for the Bishopston Ward, who has been a strong supporter of the housing project since its formation said: “Gŵyr Community Land Trust are proposing innovative community-led, community-built and community-owned zero-carbon genuinely affordable homes.  There will be 14 homes for people who were brought up or live in the community they call home but find that they cannot afford to buy a home here at market value. 

This is especially important as it could be your son or daughter who are in this position in the future. They want to work with the community to deliver this exciting model and in doing so, they have my full support.  Good luck for the journey ahead.”

Tonia Antoniazzi MP for Gower, who is fully supportive of the project said: “There is a huge need for affordable housing in Gower, so I’m thrilled that Gŵyr Community Land Trust are pursuing this project. Behind this project are local people who have a deep understanding of the Gower landscape and communities.

“This project is exciting because it promotes community, will create affordable housing that will have a lasting impact for generations to come, will be low impact and carbon negative, and will use local, sustainable materials.  

“I am looking forward to seeing the progress of the project and wish the Trust every success with it.”

(Lead image: Gŵyr Community Land Trust)