Work is advancing to transform the community building at Albany Road Baptist Church, Roath into a brand new mixed-use development featuring community space and 12 new affordable homes.
This exciting project is Cadwyn’s second development with a local Baptist church and builds upon the organisation’s continuing relationship with Faith in Affordable Housing. The partnership project will assist the church to expand their vitally important provision as a community hub, whilst providing much-needed affordable housing within the area. We are delighted to be working with Kestral Construction as the principal contractor for the scheme, as their expertise in sympathetically redeveloping historic buildings is invaluable to the success of the redevelopment.
Cadwyn purchased the building which was in disrepair March 2023 and works are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. In addition to Cadwyn funding, the project is made possible thanks to £1.7 million in capital funding from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant for the residential housing, and a further grant from the Welsh Government’s Community Facility Grant programme awarded to the church for the refurbishment of the community facilities.
The community facilities will include a multi-purpose hall and community café. It will provide accessible space for the community, and feature a dedicated Changing Place toilet which will enable everyone, regardless of disability or access need the opportunity to use the community facilities. The whole development will be fossil-fuel free, and the low-carbon residential scheme will achieve an EPC-A energy efficiency rating and feature solar panels to reduce electricity demand from the grid and lower electricity costs to residents.
Kathryn Williams, Development Project Officer at Cadwyn Housing Association, said, “Cadwyn is thrilled to be leading this fantastic project. Our vision is to provide homes and opportunities to transform people’s lives for the better and the redevelopment of Albany Baptist church will do just that.
“Not only will it provide secure, sustainable and affordable homes for people who need them, but the brand new community facilities will mean there are opportunities for leisure, learning and employment on the community’s doorstep.
“We will be working closely with the church and the local community throughout the build on developing community-focused opportunities while we are on site and beyond.”
Richard Hardy, Pastor of Albany Road Baptist Church, said, “ The churches goal from the moment we moved onto this site in the 1870’s has been to share God’s love for all people in practical, tangible ways. This building project and partnership with Cadwyn enables us to take this to the next level.
This project enables us to play our part in providing affordable housing in a part of the city where it is in short supply. It also provides ongoing support on-site for those occupying the 12 apartments should they need it.
We are very excited about the purpose built provision on the ground floor that will enable us to better server the needs of those around us in the wider community.
Over the past decade we have engaged with elderly isolation, addiction, mental illness, youth and children’s services, poverty, homelessness, disability, additional needs, health and fitness.
This project will mean that we can do more and do better.
We look forward to offering such support to people from all faiths and none.”