National UK Award for Rhyl regeneration housing scheme

An innovative housing scheme at the heart of Rhyl’s regeneration initiative has won a prestigious UK award.

The Gronant Street and Abbey Street scheme developed by the Pennaf Housing Group, next to the new Gerddi Heulwen greenspace in Rhyl, was the overall winner of the ‘Best Regeneration Project (under 70 homes) at the 2018 UK Inside Housing Awards ceremony, held in London last week.

The scheme is a key signature housing element of the transformational urban regeneration partnership project in partnership with Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government.

The homes are a mixture of affordable homes for local people to rent or for home ownership under the Welsh Government Homebuy loan scheme. It is managed by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, part of the Pennaf Housing Group.

“We are absolutely thrilled that this ambitious, innovative scheme has won national recognition. It is a real tribute to more than a decade of visionary partnership working with both the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council who had the foresight to recognise the integral part that high quality affordable housing for local people plays in the transformation of the town,” said Craig Sparrow, Executive Director for Development for Pennaf.

Minister for Housing and Regenation Rebecca Evans said: “We have provided £2.7m of investment for this fantastic scheme, which is creating much needed affordable housing for people in Rhyl, contributing to our target of creating 20,000 affordable homes during this term of government, and playing an important role in the regeneration of Rhyl. This is a great collaboration which is bringing real benefits to the town and I want to congratulate everyone involved.”

The £3.6 million development is one of a number of different housing options created around the Gerddi Heulwen greenspace and, as well as winning the overall ‘Regeneration Project Award it was also a shortlisted finalist in the ‘Best Residential Development’ (Under 70 homes) and ‘Best Affordable Housing Development’ (Under 25 homes) categories.

Cllr Tony Thomas, the Council’s lead member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this development. The Council is proud to have worked in partnership on this project, which is a key part of the ongoing regeneration of Rhyl and helps provide quality housing in the county.”