‘Outdated' British village is completely demolished after 75 years to make way for £35million revamp
Founded in 1949 for Polish WWII veterans, Penrhos Village became a tight-knit, Polish- speaking community of 100 on a former RAF base, with its own church shop, hall, and care home.
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The site, located on the scenic Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, North Wales, has now been earmarked for a £35million redevelopment project led by Welsh social housing provider ClwydAlyn.
The first phase will see 44 new energy-efficient homes built, with a total of 107 properties planned.
The project is supported by the Welsh Government, in partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd and Williams Homes (Bala).
Dylan Davies, of ClwydAlyn, said the scheme aims to tackle poverty by creating jobs and improving lives: 'Whether that is by creating opportunities for employment, tackling loneliness, supporting residents with fuel costs or improving access to nutritious foods, all these efforts can help our communities to thrive.'
The new homes will be prioritised for current residents of Penrhos and local people with low to medium care needs.
A separate proposal for a new nursing and residential home is also being developed by Cyngor Gwynedd and the local health board.
But not everyone is on board.
Campaigners and elderly residents have condemned the demolition, claiming it disregards the community's heritage and uproots those who came to Penrhos seeking peace in their final years.
Barbara Owsianka, who spoke against the plans, said: 'We are very disappointed the vote went against us, but it was close.
"I just hope ClwydAlyn takes that on board and will listen to the residents.'
She added: 'In this application, there is nothing that describes the replacement of any of the communal services and facilities the elderly folks rely on, like the hairdresser's or the launderette.
"A lot of people will be terribly worried.'
Barbara's 90-year-old mother Maria, who escaped war-torn Warsaw as a child, said: 'We all came to Penrhos at the end of our lives in the expectation of a safe haven.
"We did not expect to be forced out of our homes yet again.'
Despite the backlash, planners at Gwynedd Council narrowly approved the proposal by seven votes to five.
ClwydAlyn has stressed it will preserve key parts of the village's Polish and Welsh heritage, including the listed Freedom Cross, the church, and walled gardens.
Councillor Paul Rowlinson said: 'Addressing the housing crisis remains a key priority for Cyngor Gwynedd—especially in areas like this, where a very large percentage of local people are priced out of the market.'
Owain Williams of Williams Homes added: 'The development will create over 20 jobs for local people and contribute to the local economy during the construction period.'
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