Work has officially begun on a new council housing development at the former New Penn pub site in Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, following a sod‑cutting ceremony.
The scheme is the first to start on site as part of the Cardiff and Vale Housing Partnership, which brings together Cardiff Council, Vale of Glamorgan Council and housing specialist Lovell Partnerships. The partnership will deliver affordable homes and support community regeneration across Cardiff and the Vale, with plans for around 2,500 homes, including approximately 1,600 new council homes, across 25 sites.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, was joined by Shane Jay, Project Director from Lovell Partnerships to officially break ground on the site.
The development will deliver seven two-bedroom and four three-bedroom energy‑efficient council homes, helping to meet local housing need while bringing a long‑vacant brownfield site back into use.
The scheme forms part of the council’s wider development programme to increase the supply of affordable homes across the city.
Cllr Thorne said:
“Today’s sod cutting marks an important milestone for this site and for the local community. This development will transform a disused brownfield site into much‑needed, high‑quality council homes that are energy‑efficient, well-designed and fit for modern living.
“It’s another example of our commitment to increasing the supply of affordable housing and creating sustainable neighbourhoods across Cardiff.”
Shane Jay, Project Director at Lovell, said:
“We are immensely proud to have broken ground on the New Penn development and commenced work on the impactful Cardiff and Vale housing partnership. This project will transform what was a redundant site into a high-quality and sustainable new community, and one that is wholly affordable to address local housing needs.
“As the first scheme under the Cardiff and Vale partnership, New Penn is a hugely significant project for us and Cardiff Council, setting a benchmark for future developments delivered within the programme.
“At Lovell, we have been working collaboratively with partners and regenerating brownfield sites into vibrant new communities for over 40 years, delivering much needed housing and sustainable public spaces, and we are excited to be adding New Penn to our growing portfolio.”
In addition to new homes, the New Penn development will include landscaping, green infrastructure and a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS). These features will support biodiversity, manage surface water naturally and improve the overall quality of the local environment. Improved pedestrian connections will also help better integrate the site with the surrounding neighbourhood, making it easier for residents to walk, cycle and use public transport to access local shops, schools and parks.
The Cardiff and Vale Housing Partnership programme will also provide new community facilities, commercial spaces and wellbeing centres. This reflects the partnership’s placemaking vision, which aims to foster inclusive, thriving neighbourhoods where people can live, work and access essential services.
The programme includes a diverse range of developments, from smaller projects such as the 11 homes at the New Penn site to large‑scale regeneration schemes including the Gasworks in Grangetown and The Mole on Barry Waterfront.
