Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader has visited a family in Ystradgynlais to see how they have settled into new council housing aimed at tackling the local housing emergency.

Courtney James and her family moved into one of four two-bedroom homes at Parc Brynygroes, which were purchased by the council from Morgan Homes as part of an ‘Off the Shelf Scheme’. The developer is building 110 new homes at the site.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, spoke to Courtney during his visit to the new properties.

“It was a real pleasure to visit Courtney and see how well her family has settled into their home. Hearing how much this home has meant to them was incredibly moving,” said Cllr Dorrance.

“It’s clear that these homes are making a real difference. They’re more than just bricks and mortar - they’re the foundation for a stronger, fairer, and greener Powys.

“Everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to live, and I’m proud that we’re delivering on that promise through our investment in high-quality council housing.”

Courtney James described her experience living in the new home: “I feel very grateful to have been offered one of these new build homes with Powys County Council.

“We have settled in very well and it’s a lovely neighbourhood to bring up my young daughter. It’s a lovely area and I look forward to seeing how it develops as they continue to build more environmentally friendly homes.”

The four homes were secured through a planning agreement requiring a proportion of the Parc Brynygroes development to be allocated for affordable housing, with the remainder sold on the open market.

This purchase is part of the council’s five-year ‘At Home in Powys’ plan to boost secure, high-quality social housing across the county.