Cardiff Council has acquired a 40-apartment building as part of efforts to tackle homelessness in the city. In a multi-million-pound deal, the exact value of which has not been disclosed, the council has acquired Lime Tree Mansions on Whitchurch Road in the Maindy area of the city. The council bought the apartment scheme from JCPS Homes, with law firm Hugh James acting for the council on the deal.
Council's housing strategy
Lynda Thorne, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Cardiff continues to face significant housing and homelessness pressures, which is why we have been exploring a wider range of delivery options alongside our new-build programme to help meet the urgent need for affordable housing.
“The acquisition of Lime Tree Mansions represents an important investment that will enable us to provide additional temporary accommodation for households in need, while supporting our wider efforts to improve housing outcomes across the city. We are grateful to Hugh James for their expert support throughout the transaction, helping us secure this acquisition and take another important step towards delivering the homes and housing support that Cardiff residents need.”
Legal support and expertise
The apartments are currently vacant. The Hugh James team was led by senior associate in the firm’s commercial property team, Kylie Underhill. She said: “We are proud to have supported Cardiff Council on the acquisition of Lime Tree Mansions. This was an important transaction for the Council and one which required a focused and collaborative approach to meet the required timeframe. It is always rewarding to support public sector clients on acquisitions which have the potential to deliver real benefit to local communities.”
Caroline O’Flaherty, partner in Hugh James’ commercial property team, said: “This is a fantastic result and reflects the strength of our Commercial Property team’s public sector expertise. We are proud to have assisted Cardiff Council in its continuing strides to provide vital housing across the city.”
Previous acquisitions
Last year the council acquired the former prime office Scott Harbour building in Cardiff Bay from Rightacres. In a £28.5m investment Cardiff Council has provided 78 apartments as permanent tenancies. The apartments are mainly occupied by families as part of its strategy of addressing a critical shortage of affordable homes.
