The largest council housebuilding project in decades in Swansea has yet to start more than a year and a half after receiving planning permission. The development, consisting of 156 houses, bungalows, and flats off Brokesby Road, Bonymaen, will be built in phases.
Planning Approval and Community Response
The council's planning committee unanimously approved the development on December 3, 2024. Bonymaen councillor Mandy Evans addressed the committee, saying: "This is massive for us." She particularly welcomed the 26 four-bedroom homes included, adding: "We've got big families who are struggling – struggling to live a decent life."
Deputy council leader Andrea Harrington said after the meeting: "This is major step forward in our aims of creating more affordable housing in the city, adding to our existing housing stock."
Progress and Delays
The council, when asked this month by the Local Democracy Reporting Service when construction would start and what progress had taken place, said a start date had not been confirmed yet. It added that site investigations, statutory approval work, engagement, and procurement have been progressing, and the first phase would be ready to start following the appointment of a design and build contractor.
Council leader Rob Stewart said: "Brokesby Road is a great example of the kind of development we want to see. It's a major project that will provide homes for our tenants and important work is continuing behind the scenes to help bring it forward."
Development Features and Challenges
The development will include green spaces, play areas, and walking and cycling paths. One planning condition related to drinking water, as Welsh Water said there was insufficient capacity at the time of the application to supply the 156 homes.
The Labour-run council has a target of providing 1,000 extra affordable homes between 2021 and 2031, reaching 431 as of the end of March this year. These include 101 new-build homes, converted council offices and community centres, and the purchase of former council houses sold under the right-to-buy scheme.
"Behind every one of these homes is a person, a couple, or a family who now has a place to call home and that's what this programme is all about," said Cllr Stewart.
Housing Need and Temporary Accommodation
Thousands of people are waiting for housing in Swansea, including council house tenants waiting for a transfer. Putting people up in bed and breakfast accommodation cost £7.2m in 2025-26. The council recouped around £3.4m of this sum via Welsh Government funding, housing benefit, and Home Office funding for released prisoners. It has also acquired two sizeable buildings to provide temporary accommodation, one of which is open.
