70 new homes for social rent are on their way to Llanelli, and they'll be showcasing the use of steel frames and roofing systems as the developers embrace modern methods of construction.
The development on former Tata Steel land next to Parc y Scarlets will be built by Beacon Cymru, and will be part-funded by the Welsh Government’s social housing grant scheme (SHG).
The structures will be built using a galvanised steel frame, whilst the roofs will feature the sleek and stylish Catnic SolarSeam system with built-in solar energy generation. The site spans approximately 2.02 hectares and will deliver 70 high-quality, 100% social rent homes as a mix of:
• 18 two-person, one-bedroom apartments
• 30 four-person, two-bedroom houses
• 10 five-person, three-bedroom houses
• 8 six-person, four-bedroom houses
• 2 three-person, two-bedroom bungalows
• 2 wheelchair-adapted two-person, one-bedroom bungalows
The homes have been designed with support from Swansea University’s Specific knowledge centre to ensure high levels of energy performance for residents and minimise the environmental impact of the construction process.
"We are confident that this scheme will act a catalyst for the wider residential market, with steel as the key material of choice" Anil Jhanji, Tata Steel
Monmouthshire-based Edenstone Homes will complete the detailed design and undertake the build process on behalf of Beacon Cymru and will give an enhanced role to renewable energy technologies and biodiversity practices that exceed industry standards and meet a commitment to sustainability shared by all project partners.
The scheme will deliver modern methods of construction (MMC) by way of offsite manufactured steel frame and will also be Net Zero Energy compliant through the utilisation of air source heat pumps, extensive integrated PV panels on the roofs, smart hot water cylinders and home control systems as well as EV charging points and excellent insulation values to the fabric of the homes.
"Our commitment to renewable energy, biodiversity, and the collaboration with Tata Steel reflects our continued dedication to innovation and sustainability" Debbie Green, Beacon Cymru
Debbie Green, Chief Executive of Beacon Cymru Group, said: "This development with Edenstone Homes is a significant, early milestone in our journey to deliver more high-quality, affordable homes as a result of merger. Our commitment to renewable energy, biodiversity, and the collaboration with Tata Steel reflects our continued dedication to innovation and sustainability through the merger process and into our bright future as Beacon Cymru. We are grateful to Welsh Government for their continued support in the form of funding to help make these much-needed homes a reality.”
"This energy efficient steel frame project is an innovative approach to providing new homes to high quality and energy efficiency standards" Glyn Mabey, Edenstone
Glyn Mabey, Chief Executive of Edenstone Group commented: “We are delighted to take part in one of the first projects of the newly-formed Beacon Cymru Group. This energy efficient steel frame project is an innovative approach to providing new homes to high quality and energy efficiency standards in Wales, as we continue to grow our mixed tenure residential developer business model across South Wales and the West of England.”
Anil Jhanji, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Steel UK said: “Supporting a community development which will add such value to the region, is incredibly humbling for Tata Steel. For decades it has been recognised that more homes are needed across the UK, and this project showcases the role that steel can play in building housing at scale and pace. We are confident that this scheme will act a catalyst for the wider residential market, with steel as the key material of choice, and we look forward to completing it in due course."
"Together we’re delivering affordable, scalable, and sustainable active homes that incorporate biophilic design, harmonize with the local environment and support Welsh steel products and businesses” Jan Bell, Swansea University
Jan Bell, Innovation & Engagement Director Swansea University said: “We’re thrilled to have brought together partners for this project, to create energy efficient, steel intensive homes using a local Welsh supply chain. This effort builds on long term partnerships with the University, Tata Steel, Carmarthenshire County Council and Coastal Housing, supported by Welsh Government. Together we’re delivering affordable, scalable, and sustainable active homes that incorporate biophilic design, harmonize with the local environment and support Welsh steel products and businesses”.
Construction will commence shortly and take approximately 2 years, with the initial handovers for occupation by mid 2026.
70 new homes will be built on land next to Parc y Scarlets - YouTube
About Beacon Cymru Group
Beacon Cymru Group was formed in January 2025 by the merger of Coastal Housing Group and RHA Wales: two community landlords with reputations for excellence, innovation and sustainability. They are the strong foundations upon which Beacon Cymru is built: a larger company that will make a bigger difference in more people’s lives, guided by a shared culture and a shared focus.
About Edenstone
Edenstone is an independently owned, award-winning housebuilding group operating throughout South Wales, the South Midlands, the West Country & the South West of England.
Headquartered in Magor, Edenstone is a mixed tenure residential developer, providing homes for sale to the private market and homes for Partners such as Registered Housing providers and Private Rented sector providers.
Edenstone is committed to sustainability, good quality design and placemaking and good quality build and aims to provide homes and service to be proud of. A business with a trusted reputation and an organisation people enjoy working with and for, Edenstone has been trading for more than 20 years. It delivered total sales of £82.5m in the 12 months to April 2023.
About Tata Steel
- The Tata Steel Group has been named one of the most ethical companies in the world, and is among the top producing global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes.
- Tata Steel in the UK has the ambition to produce net-zero steel by 2045 at the latest, and to have reduced 30% of its CO2 emissions by 2030.
- In October 2024, Tata Steel ceased ironmaking at its Port Talbot site and temporarily paused steelmaking pending the construction of a 3.2Mtpa Electric Arc Furnace, due to be commissioned late in 2027 / early 2028. For that period, the business will import slab and hot rolled coil to support manufacturing and distribution operations at sites across Wales, England and Northern Ireland as well as Norway, Sweden, France, Germany and UAE. It also benefits from a network of sales offices around the world.
- Throughout 2024 Tata Steel UK has been undergoing a restructuring that will reduce the size of its workforce to around 5000 direct employees, supplying high-quality steel products to demanding markets, including construction and infrastructure, automotive, packaging and engineering.
- Tata Steel Group is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations and a commercial presence across the world.
The group recorded a consolidated turnover of around US$27.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2024.
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