Affordable housing increasing in Denbighshire

One in three homes provided in Denbighshire over the last two years were affordable housing.

Since 2017, 30% of homes provided in the county were classed as affordable and include new builds, empty homes returned to use and the re-purchase of former council houses, for a total of 154 affordable properties.

The Council has pledged to support the development of 1000 new homes in Denbighshire between 2017 and 2022, with 260 of those designated as affordable homes and 170 as council houses.

Councillor Tony Thomas, the council's Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “The Council recognised a need to ensure housing is available to meet the needs of Denbighshire residents. We made housing a priority in our Corporate Plan and we are delivering on our promise to provide a wide range of accommodation available to suit different needs and affordable homes are an important part of this.

“We have been working closely with developers and in partnership with registered social landlords to ensure demand in the county is being met.

“Building on the good work that has already taken place, we are expecting a rise in the level of affordable housing completed over the next few years.

“Providing more houses, and more affordable homes in particular, across our communities is part of our work to ensure we retain more young people in the county.

“This is also part of our efforts to prevent homelessness and provide more options to secure long-term, sustainable accommodation for those who have unfortunately found themselves homeless.”

As well as properties already built, there are currently 60 affordable housing units on mixed sites under construction in Rhewl, Rhuddlan, Llangollen, Rhyl, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Dyserth.

A further 156 units on 100 per cent affordable housing sites are expected to be complete by 2020, including sites in Trefnant and Rhyl.

Sites with planning permission for new council homes include the former Bodnant School, Prestatyn; The Dell, Prestatyn; whilst a planning application has been submitted for 22 new homes on council owned land next to Tan y Sgubor, Upper Denbigh.

All new council homes are being built to the highest energy efficiency standards.

A property on Brighton Road, Rhyl, has also been renovated by the Council to create three new apartments.