Morganstone and Gwalia host Old Oak Housing Co-operative community information event

Morganstone Ltd and housing provider, Gwalia hosted an information event for the existing community surrounding the proposed Old Oak Housing Co-operative development on land off Bro Myrddin, Carmarthen.  Staff from construction company Morganstone, Gwalia, project partner Carmarthenshire County Council and the Wales Co-operative Centre attended the event to introduce themselves to the local residents.

The co-operative housing project is the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire, and one of only three being piloted in Wales. It will feature 27 homes consisting of two, three, and four bedroom house types. Members of the co-op will manage the homes democratically, encouraging increased levels of satisfaction from doing so. Co-op members will also decide how any surpluses made will be used to improve the community.

Since September 2014 residents who will be living in the new development have been attending fortnightly housing management sessions run by Gwalia and the Wales Co-operative Centre to ensure that they have the skills necessary to actively participate in the management of the co-op.  A number of residents will be elected to sit on the board, and they will be responsible for making the key management decisions.

More than 30 people turned up from the area over the course of the day (held on Wednesday July 8) to ask questions relating to the new development, which is due to commence in August 2015.

Staff from Morganstone, Gwalia, Carmarthenshire County Council and the Wales Co-operative Centre were on hand so show the future residents site plans, and even took them to look at where the homes will be situated off Heol Dyfnallt, Carmarthen.

Antonia John, Community Engagement Manager for Morganstone, said:

“The idea behind the event was to introduce ourselves as a construction company and a housing provider and to inform the local community about the new development and ask us any questions, and air any concerns they might have had regarding the development. Several of the Old Oak Housing Co-operative residents who will be living on the new development attended the event and introduced themselves and chatted to the local community.

“The information event was a success and several residents enjoyed a cup of tea, whilst being shown plans and CGIs of the homes. The residents were very appreciative that we all took the time to talk them through everything.”