Spectacular Social Housing Built in Scurlage, Gower

Built by Neath based Hale Construction on behalf of Swansea based social housing provider, Family Housing Association, the site has 14 two and three bedroomed houses, all built to the highest spec and with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

With the beaches of Oxwich, Port Eynon and Rhossili all nearby, the homes are in an enviable area of the peninsula.

In line with Family Housing Association’s commitment to benefitting local communities, the new houses will only be available to people who are already living or working in the area.

Karen Dusgate, Chief Executive of Family Housing Association, said: “We are immensely proud to be bringing this development to Scurlage. Creating strong communities where people can live active and fulfilling lives is at the core of our principles and I am delighted with the new development and the benefits it will have for the people who live there.”

The project was completed in partnership with the City and County of Swansea and received both private and Welsh Government funding.

Karen continues: “We are grateful to Welsh Government for their role in this development, as a Social Housing Grant and innovative Bond Finance from them has made up over half of the funding.”

The Scurlage site, which took 40 weeks to complete, is the first time that Hale Construction has built on the Gower. Working in the area was a positive experience for Site Manager, Matthew Hall, who said:

“Turning up at work with those views every day was fantastic and really spurred us on. The finish on the site is exactly what we planned for – it’s a project I’m proud to have worked on”.

While Chairman of the company, Jonathan Hale, added:

“We have worked with Family Housing Association for twenty years. It’s a very significant relationship to me – creating social housing that people love living in is just as important to Hale as creating luxury developments.”

Karen Dusgate, added: “It is always a pleasure to work with Hale providing much-needed homes for the people of Swansea and contributing to the local economy by appointing a local firm. We are proud to be continuing our relationship with them which has spanned over two decades.”

Robin Kirby, Chairman of the Gower Society, said of the development: “The Gower Society applauds this modest but significant housing development in the AONB at Scurlage. The Society exercises the right to scrutinise and comment on planning applications and in 2016 identified approximately 200 of substance relating to the Peninsular on which it commented on 67 and objected to only 30. One of its three comments, intended to be constructive, on this proposed development were for the dwellings to be rented as sole residences to local people, and we are pleased this has been achieved.

“The 14 dwellings have been designed attractively in accordance with the Local Authority’s Design Guide for Gower in a spacious setting with wide roads, off road parking and tree planting.

“The Peninsular needs more of this type and size of residential housing to accommodate the needs of local people working locally.

Family Housing Association (Wales) Limited must be commended for taking the initiative in Gower.”

This is a new chapter in the background of Scurlage, a village that once housed an American Army camp – its coastal location was seen to closely resemble the beaches of Normandy, making it ideal for troops to practice landings.

Hale Construction is part of a wider Hale Group which includes private housing developer Hale Homes and Seven Oaks Timberframe.