We were selected as part of a competitive tender process to work as Architects for the second phase of the Cardiff Housing Partnership Programme in 2018. As the first site to achieve planning in this phase, the redevelopment of the former school site (Eastern High School) is to provide 214 dwellings, 30% of which will be made available for affordable rent models. Detached, semi-detached and terraced two and three bed properties make up the majority of the proposal with a separate 4-5 storey apartment building fronting the site along Newport Road.
In line with energy performance objectives of the CHPP all properties aim to adopt a 'fabric first' standard that will achieve a 17% uplift over building regulations. The project will be one of the first schemes in Wales to work in line with the new Sustainable Urban Drainage guidance with the landscape presence of swales and rain gardens running through the scheme.
In September 2019, the housing minister announced a funding boost for this renewable energy housing scheme of £3.9m as part of the Innovative Housing Programme. The new development in Rumney, which inclues 65 new council homes and 149 open market sale properties, will take energy performance standards to a new level as all of the homes will incorporate renewable technologies to significantly reduce the energy demand on the grid as well as helping to tackle fuel poverty by reducing energy bills. Both council and sale housing will be built to the same energy performance standards.