First council homes to be built in nearly 40 years

A former residential home in Newtown will become the site of one of the first council houses to be built in nearly four decades in Powys.

Powys County Council's Cabinet is expected to agree to transferring surplus land to the authority's housing service. It will include Robert Owen House in Park Lane, Newtown.

The existing empty building was struck by fire last month.

Other sites are spread throughout the county.

It comes after council apartments due to be built at the bowling club in Newtown failed to proceed when the construction company that won the contract went into administration last year.

The council is hoping to appoint a new contractor this year.

"The transfer will also help the Housing Service fulfil the Council’s Vision 2025 objective of providing up to 250 new homes by 2023 to meet the growing need for affordable housing and bolster the sustainability of the Council’s role as the provider of one in 10 of all homes in Powys," states a council report.

Other sites in Newtown are also due to have council and affordable houses built on them.

 

Photo: Robert Owen House (Photo by Paul Williams)