Councillors helped construction work get under way on a redevelopment scheme set to bring new life to the St Dials neighbourhood of Cwmbran in South Wales.

The £7 million development 'Blenheim Chase' will replace the Blenheim Square shopping precinct with 53 new homes - for sale, affordable rent and affordable home ownership - and will see the creation of new public open space. New premises will also be built for the two shops which are currently based at the precinct.

The project is being carried out by a partnership of the local community, Torfaen County Borough Council, local housing organisation Fairlake Properties and Lovell. Residents have played a key part in developing the proposals through a detailed consultation process.


Work is now under way at the site with the demolition of Coniston House, an old and run down block of flats, to enable construction work for phase one of the replacement new housing to begin. The new shops are also now being built on land nearby to the south of the Square, and once completed the old shopping and residential precinct will be demolished, along with four nearby blocks of flats to make way for phase two of the new development. Overall there will be six new homes for rent, 10 homes for affordable home ownership and 37 homes for open market sale and Lovell will begin selling a range of two- and three-bedroom homes later this summer.

Rhys Parry, Fairlake Development Manager said: "We have been working in partnership with Torfaen County Borough Council and Lovell for a number of years to reach this point. We are delighted works have started on site and would specifically like to thank the local residents for their input into the project. We look forward to working with our partners to provide modern, affordable housing for local people."

(CD/JM)