A £3.5 MILLION development has been completed on the land of a former church in Barry which had become derelict.

The Church Court development has seen 27 one and two bedroom apartments built on the site of the former St Paul’s Church.

The homes are energy efficient, with a structurally insulated panels timber frame used and electric heating subsidised by photovoltaic panels – solar panels – on the roof.

And the development, built by a partnership of Hafod, the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Housing Justice Cymru, the Church in Wales, and Hale Construction Ltd, has also been awarded a Secured by Design Gold Award because of measures taken prevent opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour within the development.

Paul Long, built environment and technical specialist at Hafod, said: “It’s so rewarding to welcome tenants to their new homes which are in such high demand in this area.

“The regeneration of this site has been carefully thought out, using sustainable building methods to maximise the energy efficiency of these homes for our tenants and the environment.”

The development is part of the Faith in Affordable Housing project, and provides much-needed homes in an area of high demand.

Faith in Affordable Housing aims to utilise surplus Church in Wales land for affordable housing. It is managed by Housing Justice Cymru and was set up to encourage churches of all denominations to release land and buildings for affordable housing so the Church can give something back to the community rather than selling land and property on the open market.

Louise Elliott, project lead for Faith in Affordable Housing, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to see the results at Church Court.

“By working in collaboration, 27 efficient and affordable homes for life have been provided within an area in need of improvement and housing.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Hafod, Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Church in Wales and J.G. Hale Construction Ltd for working with us on this scheme. We really value the partnerships we are creating together, Faith in Affordable Housing are always really excited to get to the end goal where homes have been completed and the lives within them can flourish.”