Dolwyddelan Dolwyddelan Dolwyddelan Dolwyddelan Dolwyddelan Dolwyddelan

July 19

Work on ‘Tŷ Unnos’ Affordable Homes at Dolwyddelan Begins

14 July 2010

In an exciting project, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd is pleased to announce that work will begin today (Wednesday 14 July) at Dolwyddelan near Betws y Coed, Conwy to build 4 timber framed affordable new homes.  The name of this innovative project, ‘Tŷ Unnos’ (A House in a Night), is based on traditional Welsh folklore, whereby a person who successfully builds a house on common land in one night, then becomes the owner of that house.  Welsh sitka spruce (coniferous evergreen trees) will be used by an Oswestry based company, J R Pickstock Ltd, to build the 4 timber framed affordable homes at Dolwyddelan.  The timber framed building technology has been developed by Coed Cymru, Elements Europe Ltd and the Welsh School of Architecture. 


Elements Europe’s ‘Tŷ Unnos’ method was created in order to develop affordable sustainable housing as a building solution to meet current UK housing needs.  A patented box-beam and ladder system has been developed by the company using indigenous Welsh sitka spruce timber to provide a strong structural frame from this renewable material. The components will be constructed off-site, ensuring less waste and stringent quality control measures, and bought to the site as ‘pods’.  The first ‘pod’ on site at Dolwyddelan will form the ground floor, with a second and third ‘pod’ forming the first floor and roof elements.  

Alwyn Llwyd, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd’s Chief Executive said: “This is an important day for us and the local community at Dolwyddelan.  Building affordable homes for communities in need of new houses for local people is always a great joy, but in particular, here at Dolwyddelan, the project itself is innovative.  Not only will the houses be built using sustainable materials on land previously owned by the Welsh Assembly Government, but strong sustainable elements will also form part of the buildings design in order to make the householders living experience much greener.  These include a built in heat recovery system with solar panels on the roof used to supplement water heating.  This in turn will lead to lower household running costs.  I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our partners agencies for getting the project this far, and look forward to seeing the site as it develops in the coming weeks and months.”

Forestry Commission Wales has released the land which it previously managed on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, in order that Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd can develop these affordable homes to meet local people’s needs.  This is the second partnership project between Forestry Commission Wales and the Housing Association, the first completed at Dinas Mawddwy in October last year.  Today (Wednesday 14 July 2010) sees the first turf cut at the site as the £505,000 development, secured jointly from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Social Housing Grant and Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, begins. 



Llion Derbyshire, Area Land Agent for Forestry Commission Wales said: “We are delighted to see a second site of land previously managed by Forestry Commission Wales developed for affordable housing.  In the heart of Snowdonia National Park, the houses, on a 1.5 acre of open land in the village of Dolwyddelan, will be built to a high standard in a sustainable manner.  As the largest single land manager in Wales, Forestry Commission Wales will continue to work with the Assembly Government to meet its targets for affordable housing in rural areas."

Dolwyddelan Community Council, Conwy and Denbighshire’s Rural Housing Enabler, Conwy Borough County Council, Forestry Commission Wales, Snowdonia National Park and Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd have worked in partnership on this development for the last few years.  Dolwyddelan Community Council drove the need for affordable homes, following nearly 40 years since the last council built houses were developed at the village.  

Dolwyddelan Community Council Clerk Gwyn Roberts, also a resident of the village said: “We are delighted to see this day arrive, and work actually beginning on site.  We began looking at affordable housing for the village back in June 2006, following some consultation work with the community.  This is an exciting project for the local people and one that will bring an opportunity to young families and couples keen to stay in the area and set up home here.  Rising house prices has made purchasing and renting homes during the last few years difficult especially in a tranquil rural village like Dolwyddelan, so this will be a great opportunity for local people keen to live in the area.  I would like to thank both the previous and current Rural Housing Enablers for all their support and assistance to start the ball rolling on this project.  Also to Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd officials who have been with us all the way on this project.  Cerian Evans, the Rural Housing Enabler is here with us today to see the development work begin.”  

Aberconwy’s Assembly Member Gareth Jones says the local community deserves great praise for their leadership: “There is a diligent group at Dolwyddelan who work tirelessly to ensure the village thrives.  We must pay tribute to them.  Seeing the work begin today is an indication of their commitment and dedication.  By building affordable homes within their community, they are offering youngsters the opportunity to establish themselves in their rural village, bringing with them a sense of confidence.  Investing sustainable resources in the community also promotes and strengthens the village’s future.  It is a success story due to the partnership work of all organisations involved – congratulations to everyone!”



This year, three other rural housing projects are being developed by Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd in partnership with other agencies, including a development at Pentredwr, Llangollen; Cynwyd near Corwen and Llangadfan near Welshpool.  The total investment of the four rural projects will be £1,825,000*.  

Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, will develop 63 housing units across north Wales this year - a record housing development programme for the organisation, set within a £16 million* budget.  It is the housing association’s largest annual development programme in its 30 year history. These 63 housing units will be built across north Wales in 2010 – 2011 which includes two extra care housing developments for the elderly at Y Bala and Ruthin.

* £9.5 million of the funding has been secured from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Social Housing Grant, with the rest £6.5 million being secured by Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd through private finance.