Latest news with #housingassociation
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents furious over plans to build homes on children's playing field
Early stage proposals to create 22 new homes in a Neath Port Talbot village have been brought forward despite objections from residents. The plans from housing association Tai Tarian could see the new homes created at a site on Brynna Road in Cwmafan on land that currently serves as a playing field next to a children's play area. The local housing association says it is currently exploring the potential development of the 22 homes which could help address the "heavy demand" for housing in the area. READ MORE: Urgent advice issued to Welsh attractions after hundreds of people fall ill READ MORE: Woman was sat reading a book at a bus station when she was sexually assaulted If taken forward it would be made up of two walk-up flats and four bungalows, along with 10 two bedroom houses, four three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses. They would also include parking for all of the homes with an allowance of one space per bedroom, together with additional visitor spaces that would "ensure minimum impact on parking availability in the area." A report from the housing provider said: "Tai Tarian is exploring the potential for a development of 22 family homes on land owned by us in Cwmafan. "This is just a proposal at the moment and is subject to further investigations and the usual planning and approval process. "The site is at Brynna Road and is adjacent to a children's play area which would be retained and upgraded if the project went ahead. "There are currently thousands of people on our waiting list in search of a home, and with this proposed development we are looking to address this issue, particularly in Cwmafan where we are seeing a heavy demand." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice However, speaking in response to the proposals many residents in the village said they were opposed to the development that would take away a well-used public green space described as an oasis for locals. They have also launched a website in order to save the playing field known as Brynbryddan along with a petition that had already gained over 600 signatures at the time of publishing. Ben Sutcliffe-Davies lives near the site and says with generations of his family having played at the field he wants to keep it for others to use in the future He said: "This field belongs to the village and nobody has the right to take away an open green space that so many local children use to play on. "It's incredibly important for people's well-being here and is also one of the last pieces of open land like this in Cwmafan. "It has been here for over 70 years and means so much to the community, so we're definitely not going to let it go without a fight." A section of the petition adds: "The field next to our park is more than just a green space. It's an oasis for our children and us amidst the urban sprawl, a place of respite where we can breathe fresh air and play unencumbered by the concrete infrastructures. "We cannot stand by and watch as this vital asset of our community is stripped away from us to give way to yet another housing project." A pre-application consultation over the Brynna Road plans is now expected to take place before any submissions are made to the local authority.
BBC News
24-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Woman says rats 'ruined everything' in her Launceston home
A woman says she has been driven out of her Cornwall home after an 18-month fight to tackle a rat infestation that has destroyed parts of her house. Merrily Sanders, of Launceston, said the rats had "ruined everything" in her home on Moorland Road, forcing her to move in with her son. She said the rats had gnawed through her garden fence, walls, flooring, bathroom and feels let down by her housing association and said the stress had affected her mental Guinness Partnership apologised and said the condition of the gardens of neighbouring properties had attracted the rats. It said contractors had attended to carry out pest control and further visits had been arranged. It added the neighbouring gardens had also now been cleared, and potential access points to Ms Sanders property had been blocked. Ms Sanders explained there were droppings everywhere, her electricity was tripping and her kitchen completely ruined. She said the infestation had prevented her from having her grandchildren visit and left her feeling like the housing association "don't care" and "don't take it seriously". Ms Sanders says she first reported the issue to the Guinness Partnership a year ago. "I've been on out-of-hours emergency calls but nobody has been out to me, they don't care."She added: "I should not have to live and rely on living in other peoples houses. I want to be safe in my own house." The Guinness Partnership said: "We are sorry Ms Sanders has had problems with rats in her home."We recognise the impact this situation has had on Ms Sanders and did offer her hotel accommodation while the problem was being treated, which she declined."It added: "As some of Ms Sanders' belongings were damaged when the rats were in her home, we have also made a payment to Ms Sanders as a goodwill gesture."It said the situation would be kept under review.
Telegraph
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Why we all want to dress like a social housing director from Mumbles
On paper, Cath Weller – for the last four years, the 'face' of fashion brand Wyse – shouldn't be someone I warm to. The idea of an influencer who extols diet advice on their 'grid' would normally make me bridle. But then again, warm to her I do. Because Cath isn't your average social media influencer. In fact, despite her 37k followers and her role at Wyse, she's not really an influencer at all, or at least, not full time. Cath Weller, 54, who goes by the social media handle @mrsaddtobasket, has a full-time day job a world away from the filtered reality of Instagram's little squares. She's a director of the largest housing association in Wales, where her job is to provide critical services like a place to live and caring support to those in need. 'I don't need to be an influencer,' she tells me when we meet over video call from her home office. 'I already have a full time job I enjoy. But I've always joked that I'm a frustrated TV presenter as I feel very comfortable in front of the camera, and I also love fashion and finding solutions to people's problems.' Cath wears: Slogan knit £125; Loafer jeans, £195, Wyse Weller who lives in Mumbles with her husband Matt, 58, son Teddy, 21 and black labrador Margot, has a softly sing-songy Welsh accent and appears smiley, groomed and impeccably made-up. She is wearing a bright red jumper emblazoned with the slogan 'Never Too Much' from her forthcoming capsule collection with Wyse, and a rail of clothing hangs behind her ('that's my rail of joy!' she says, happily) ready to pack for her forthcoming holiday to Crete. I spy one of her trademark Gucci handbags perched on the end of it. Skip to: Cath's style rules Get Cath's look How it started 'Around the time of the pandemic, a lot in my life changed. My job was stressful. I was in charge of health and safety for our social housing company and you can imagine how that was during Covid, trying to protect elderly people in care homes. When we went into lockdown, my meetings would begin at 6am and sometimes I'd be working til midnight. Matt would bring me food and drink to my desk as my working day would be 14-16 hours long but… I was able to start working from home which saved me a lengthy commute in the car. Then my son Teddy, who is now 21, finished his GCSEs so he needed me less, and I'd started a diet which would ultimately see me lose 3.5 stone, so my body was changing. As 2020 went on, I had some downtime to fill.' It was then that Weller – who confesses she's 'always been obsessed with fashion and beauty, I'm a born consumer!' – started really using Instagram. 'My friend Helen had actually set up the account for me but I rarely used it save for the occasional post about a beauty product or something I'd bought. I had 100 followers for about two years and I wasn't trying to grow it or anything.' Cath wears: Pointed-toe pumps with straps, £329, Maje Weller discovered Wyse during the first lockdown, through Helen. 'At that time, Marielle [Wyse, founder of the eponymous label] was doing a lot of community building, a lot of 'Live' Instagram sessions, and I started really engaging with it,' she says. 'I was at home, I wanted a bit of joy. I'd lost three stone and wanted to incorporate a bit more colour in my wardrobe. Also, video calls meant people could only see my top half. I just needed a whole new look.' A self-confessed 'over thinker', Weller began contacting Marielle Wyse directly, asking her advice about sizing and sending photographs of herself in some of her purchases. When the pair met at one of the brand's shopping events between lockdowns in 2020, they really hit it off and began to collaborate on more live videos on social media. The customers loved them. 'They flew!' says Weller, with visible joy. Cath wears: Lauren blouse, £165, Wyse; Blondie medium top handle bag, £2,530, Gucci 'People were asking me styling questions, sizing questions, Marielle was also getting a lot of engagement, it was an incredible reaction. The brand was also at a juncture, they were trying to grow. At the start of 2021 I became an official Wyse ambassador. It was a real honour, because I've always genuinely loved what they do. It just all fell into place completely organically.' How it's going That sense of happenstance and authenticity is a key part of Cath Weller's appeal. She says she will only work with brands she genuinely likes and has turned down many lucrative offers from companies whose products she doesn't believe in. 'I don't accept collaborations from things I don't think genuinely work. A lot of pressure on influencers is that they earn all their money through doing this. Don't get me wrong, this earns me money that I can spend on a nice holiday or a Gucci handbag, but it isn't my core. It's not where I get my security from. So that allows me freedom.' Her day starts at 5.30am and ends at 8 or 9pm. 'I have a lot of energy,' she says. Cath wears: Charlotte Coat, £425, Wyse 'I speak to Marielle every morning, then I'll do our social posts, creating the content and publishing it by seven o'clock. Then I'm on the golf course walking Margot, I come back, cook food to eat later and at eight o'clock, I log in, to start my work day.' Weller also admits she doesn't resemble her Instagram self all of the time. 'I don't wear make-up very often,' she confesses. 'What people see online is the tip of the iceberg.' In many ways, Cath Weller's split life story replicates that of Wyse founder Marielle whose original career was in TV production, specifically nature documentaries. After taking time out to look after her two children, in 2015 she decided to try her hand at fashion, something she'd always enjoyed. In 2019, her brand expanded from knitwear to a more diverse offering of separates aimed at women between the ages of 40-65 and from sizes six to 18. When the pandemic happened, Wyse decided to leave department stores to sell directly to customers through their own website and social media. Which is where Cath came in. Cath wears: 18ct gold signet ring, £1850, Alicat 'When I met Cath five years ago it was such a joyous moment,' Marielle says. 'I recognised her from pictures she'd sent me on Instagram. To sound a bit corny, it did really feel like we were picking up a conversation. She was such a bundle of joyous energy and positivity – not to mention totally stylish so there was no doubt we were going to carry on chatting… She's a Wyse customer, so she was able to showcase how to wear Wyse in a way that sometimes I just didn't have the time to do. She calls me Batman and I call her Robin. It's kind of like that.' The 10 easy pieces And now Weller has her own 10-piece capsule collection with the brand, revolving around a navy and red palette, with pops – of course – of animal print. Cath wears: Vivienne Dress in Tomato Red, £280, Wyse 'I can now tell people I am a director by day and a designer by night,' Weller giggles. 'I'm wearing the straight leg jeans right now, I've worn them for two days before and I will also wear them tomorrow. They really are great. Marielle and I worked together to create these pieces from my feedback about what I thought Wyse was missing. The reaction from shoppers has been amazing. People at my age have often lost their way with their style. Many lose their identity, they're menopausal, maybe their kids have left home. Often they don't know how to dress anymore. Then there's me, somebody real going, 'It's okay for you to wear this with that,' or 'Here's how you can style this jumper five ways.'' So does she see her work with Wyse to be about finding solutions, I wonder? 'Yes. It is exactly that,' adds Weller. 'I'm not a trained fashion stylist but I am used to finding solutions through clothing. Because I wasn't always as comfortable or as confident about my body and looks as I am now. For years I thought about what to wear to make myself look either slimmer or enhance my best bits. It made me get creative with what I wore, and see the possibilities in clothing. Now, being able to help other people feel great is how I get my kicks. Doing this is just an amazing and unexpected gift.' Cath's style rules Tonal dressing always works harder – it elongates the figure, looks luxurious…the key is mixing textures. Stick to three colours when outfit building – anything more and the balance is lost. If in doubt, size up – you'll look better and feel more comfortable. A pointy kitten heel finishes everything – it adds polish, lengthens the leg, and gives a little height without sacrificing ease. If in doubt, overdress – it's never the wrong decision.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Glasgow housing association has this plan for city centre listed building
Empty upper floors of a listed building in St Enoch Square are set to be turned into 28 flats by a housing association. Glasgow City Council has received an application to revamp two buildings: a B-listed former bank at 34-36 St Enoch Square and a property at 26-30 St Enoch Square. A private developer previously secured permission for 26 flats on the site in 2021, but the scheme did not come to fruition. The housing association announced it had purchased the buildings in a multi-million pound deal last year. Plans state it is 'understood to be the first such application by a registered social landlord that supports Glasgow City Council's strategy to double the residential population of the city centre by 2035'. Flats will be available for mid-market rent which is available to households on low to moderate incomes, and are usually cheaper than private rent but more expensive than social housing. READ NEXT: This Glasgow estate is 'an island' with no shops, post box or decent bus service READ NEXT: 'We apologise': Latest on Glasgow City Council's cyber attack The plans, submitted by MAST Architects on behalf of the housing association, state the 'floorplates, formerly in mixed business and commercial uses, were previously combined, and are communally accessed by the entrance doorway to 34 St Enoch Square'. 'The upper floors, historically in use as mixed office and commercial premises by a range of occupants, are now vacant and have been stripped back to a structural shell by the site's previous owners,' the application adds. 'We believe that it is not sustainable for the building to continue in its current configuration – while the building is being maintained and kept secure by the owner, these empty areas represent a risk to the integrity of the overall building. 'It is neither economically or environmentally sustainable to expect the building's owner to continue this as a long term strategy for the care and maintenance of the building. 'The buildings urgently require a viable end use and returned to occupation to ensure that they can be protected and conserved.' External works to the properties would include window replacements, stone repairs and replacement/repair of roof coverings. Retail units on the ground floor are under separate ownership. In March last year, the housing association said it had bought the B-listed Station House for conversion to affordable housing. Which consists of two Victorian blocks and was originally built in the 19th century as headquarters for the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company. At the time, Andrew Kubski, director of development and asset management at WSHA, said the association was thrilled to have acquired the building for its first conversion project. 'We are looking at developing the site into mid-market rent properties which will provide new affordable housing options for residents,' he added. 'We have been supported in this purchase by the city council through the affordable housing supply programme and are delighted to play a part in the council's strategy to bring people back into Glasgow city centre to ensure the sustainability of the city for the future.' These flats would be the association's first mid-market rental properties in the city centre, it said. It has over 140 MMR properties in Dundashill and Dalmarnock.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Improve military homes by creating new body, say Tories
Military homes should be run by a housing association to tackle the "poor" state of accommodation and stem an exodus of troops, the Conservatives have said. Two-thirds of homes for military families need extensive refurbishment, with much service accommodation suffering damp, mould and rat infestations, a report found last government is consulting on plans to regenerate military homes with £7bn of funding by 2025, after bringing the defence estate back under Ministry of Defence (MoD) control last shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge argued an Armed Forces Housing Association would build the "homes for heroes" long promised by governments. Speaking at a press conference, Cartlidge said he was "genuinely ashamed" of the "poor standards of housing stock" he had discovered as Defence Procurement Minister in the last Tory UK needs to rapidly rearm and bolster its defence capabilities in response to "the most serious military threats we have faced for years", he said."In my view, the capability that still matters most to our armed forces are its people. And they are still leaving service to their country faster than new recruits are joining."Official figures show 1,140 more people left the armed forces than joined last year. Nearly a third of UK troops were considering leaving the armed forces due to the standard of accommodation, the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) own survey found. Housing associations are not-for-profit organisation that own, manage and build rental housing - often renting at discount they reinvest any surplus income into maintaining and improving housing stock, rather than distributing profits to new Armed Force Housing Association would be a "mutual organisation" with board representation from service families to "ensure their voices are heard", Cartlidge body will be funded using money currently allocated for defence housing and could save the taxpayer the £80m per year currently being spent on rental costs for troops, Cartlidge year the government bought back the defence estate from Annington Homes in a £6bn, reversing a privatisation deal struck in 1996. A Labour spokesperson said that "far from making things better, these half-baked plans to privatise forces family homes yet again risks a disaster for personnel and for military capability"."By contrast, our Labour government is already investing far more than the Tories ever did into forces housing, to fix the long-term decline and deliver homes fit for heroes," the spokesperson added. Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
