The Pentwyn address became a fly-tipping hotspot after the convenience store shut down
FAMILIES who have experienced homelessness have moved into smart new homes built on the site of an old supermarket which became an eyesore.
Since the old Morrisons on Pentwyn Drive closed in 2016, it had become a well-known littering and fly-tipping hotspot, attracting vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
But housing association Linc Cymru has changed all that, bulldozing the store – once the site of the Pentwyn Arms pub – and building new homes in its place.
Residents moved into the newly-opened apartment block, which boasts 20 two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments, on September 15.
These apartments have been leased to Cardiff Council and are being used to house families who have faced homelessness and who had previously been living in hotels and B&Bs in Cardiff.
They will act as temporary accommodation while the council seek to find the residents longer-term solutions.
Development of the site has been a community affair. Two apprenticeships were created for a carpenter and a plumber during the building of the development. And as well as this, children in the area helped to create ceramic tiles spelling out the word ‘belonging’ at the front of the building.
The site on Pentwyn Drive has a landscaped courtyard, parking for up to four cars, and cycle storage for 48 bikes to encourage the use of more sustainable transport options. It is also close to bus stops and across the road from the OneStop convenience store.
To make sure the apartments are energy efficient, Linc has fitted solar panels to the roof and fitted the flats with a home ventilation system which prevents mould and damp by improving air quality.
The apartments have received funding support from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant programme, which is “the main capital grant provided by Welsh Government for the provision of affordable housing”.
Linc Cymru says it has a vision to see a “prosperous and healthier Wales” for the future.
