A NEW partnership between Cardiff and the Vale Council aims to build high-quality affordable homes at pace across the region.

The two authorities are taking a collaborative approach to dealing with the demand by teaming up to explore cross-border opportunities that will deliver around 2,500 new homes for the area over the next 10 years.

The £500m programme will focus on building new affordable homes for rent and sale at pace across 16 Cardiff sites and eight Vale of Glamorgan sites.

Included in the programme is the development of 500 new homes on the former Gasworks site at Ferry Road, Grangetown; 400 new homes at Atlantic Wharf; more than 130 homes on the former Pencoedtre High School playing fields; and 130 homes across two sites at the Western Gateway and Colcot Road in Barry.

Cllr Sandra Perkes, Cabinet Member for public sector housing and tenant engagement, said: “The Vale of Glamorgan is not unique in facing an acute shortage of affordable and social housing. What does set us apart is the scale of our ambition in responding to this.

“One of our priorities as a council is to increase the supply of good quality, accessible and affordable housing by working in partnership to address housing need. We want to do this with developments of all sizes that either enhance our existing communities or create new ones.

“Our Housing Partnership Programme will enable us to together build mixed developments of both private and affordable homes at pace and scale.

"Collaboration is one of the strengths of our organisation and we believe a proactive and enabling approach to working with a private sector partner will deliver excellent outcomes for all parties.”

Cabinet Member for housing and communities at Cardiff Council, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “Never has there been such a demand for affordable homes and because of the current pressures, we need to find new ways to deliver homes more quickly, be more innovative in our approach and more flexible to enable us to adapt effectively to changing housing needs.

“The partner we’re looking for will do more than just build houses - we’re looking for a developer who will go that extra mile to create long-lasting legacies by delivering community benefits and supporting jobs.

“Our vision is for all the properties to meet exceptional levels of design, sustainability and energy efficiency and innovation is essential.”

Together with the two local authorities, Savills Housing Development and Regeneration, Browne Jacobson and Strongs are part of the project team for the procurement of a partner developer for the programme.

Parties interested in the programme can find out further information and record their interest by visiting: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV456351.