More social housing could be coming to Newtown

Powys County Council has approved a £270 million programme to build new council homes and upgrade existing properties over the next five years, with investment expected to benefit communities across the county, including Newtown.

The council’s Cabinet signed off the latest “At Home in Powys” Housing Business Plan earlier this month, setting out how housing stock will be expanded and improved up to 2030/31.

Under the plans, more than 350 new council homes are due to be built across Powys as part of a £195 million investment. A further £46 million will be spent maintaining and upgrading existing homes to ensure they continue to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

While the programme is county-wide, Newtown has already seen recent council housing investment, including the development of new homes at Clos Robert Owen. The latest plan is expected to bring further opportunities for housing improvements and potential future developments in and around the town.

The council says the funding will support a series of targeted programmes aimed at improving housing conditions and addressing wider challenges such as fuel poverty and an ageing population.

These include a £10.5 million “Compliance One Hundred” scheme to ensure homes meet legal and safety requirements, and a £9.9 million “Green Powys” programme focused on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Additional funding includes nearly £4.3 million through the “Fit for Life” scheme to adapt homes for older residents and those with mobility needs, and more than £6.7 million under “Love Where You Live” to improve estates and community wellbeing.

Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader of Powys County Council and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said the plan would help address housing pressures across the county.

“This ambitious plan will allow the council to continue building high-quality council homes to help us tackle the housing emergency.

“The Homes in Powys – Housing Business Plan puts in place the funding needed to make our homes more energy efficient for tenants, helping reduce fuel poverty and cutting carbon emissions.

“It also commits us to continued investment in our existing homes so we can maintain the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

“This plan will help build a stronger, fairer, greener future for Powys.”

However, while the scale of investment has been welcomed, questions remain about how quickly new homes will be delivered and how they will be distributed across towns such as Newtown, where demand for affordable housing remains high.

The council has not yet confirmed specific sites or timelines for new developments in Newtown as part of the programme.