GREEN & BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE
Andrew Vye , Managing Director Pobl Homes & Communities , commented :
“ Pobl has a growing reputation for delivering forward thinking housing solutions that push the boundaries . We are excited to be working with Hacer on such an innovative project that will deliver much needed high-quality homes for Swansea and support the council ’ s wider regeneration plans for the city centre .
“ Hacer have shown a real passion and commitment to deliver this project and the support from the Council and Welsh Government has been critically important .”
The vision for Biophilic Swansea includes residents running and managing the urban farm as a social enterprise . This is founded on research demonstrating that reconnecting with nature is essential to our well-being , and that there are positive community and health outcomes from growing food and living more closely with the natural world .
The project is a mixed-use development that includes affordable and shared ownership housing , as well as retail and low carbon commercial office space . High quality inner-city apartments will be attractive to families , professionals and older people , balancing the recent trend for student housing with a more varied mix of accommodation .
The existing building , formerly Woolworth , will be redeveloped with new floors added above and a new build tower element to the rear . This will open into a new multi-use public realm , which will become a vibrant public and cultural space and a destination for events and street markets . The public realm effectively links the Biophilic Swansea project with the new Council led development at 71-72 The Kingsway on the site of the former Oceana nightclub , which will provide high tech workspace .
Pobl is a not-for-profit organisation that has over 17,600 homes under its management across Wales . The Group currently has 36 developments ongoing with the construction of over 1,200 new homes in progress with many more in the pipeline .
In Swansea , Pobl ’ s development of 52 apartments in Orchard House has recently completed , while work continues on 33 affordable apartments as part of Phase One of the Copr Bay regeneration project . Work is also about to commence on a collaborative project with Coastal Housing to develop a new community of 144 zero carbon homes to the west of the city .
Pobl has recently exceeded its target of creating 3,000 much needed new homes in the five years to 2021 and has recently outlined its ambitions for the new decade that includes investing in a further 10,000 new homes by 2030 .
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said :
“ This development is an impressive innovative concept and another landmark development for our city .
“ This demonstrates the confidence in the ongoing regeneration of Swansea from the private sector and a commitment to our regeneration , restoration and repurposing agenda . It a great example of partnership working , and I ’ m grateful to the Welsh Government for the funding it has provided to make this happen .
“ In future more people will live , work , and enjoy spending time in our greener , more people-friendly city centre – so the lifestyle , wellbeing , quality standards and greening principles of the Biophilic Living development reflect what the council is committed to creating .”
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