Pensioners have been living on a building site for nearly 18 months after workers down tools when firm went bust leaving 27 homes unfinished
- Pensioners have lived in the middle of an abandoned building site in Ebbw Vale, south Wales, for over a year
- Their homes have surrounded by rubble and half-finished buildings after works stopped over a year ago
- Project would have seen 27 social houses but company went into administration and workers downed tools
- Angry locals described situation as ‘disgusting’ and say they have been left in dark by company managing site
Pensioners have been living in the middle of an abandoned building site for over a year with their homes surrounded by mounds of rubble and half-finished buildings – after works began on their doorsteps two years ago.
The project should have seen 27 social housing properties created, but in July 2021 contractors WRW Construction went into administration and workers downed tools and left the estate.
But for almost a year-and-a-half, no work has been happening on what is supposed to be the Glanffrwd development in Ebbw Vale, south Wales.
Now, despite being assured work would restart in October, residents living around the abandoned wreckage – the majority of them in their 70s and 80s – are still none the wiser on what is happening.
Glanffwrdd Develpment, Ebbw Vale, which was abandoned half way through work 14 months ago. Resident Derek Woodman said the state of the area and how it has been left now is ‘disgusting.’
Ray Stevens, who has lived in his home since it was built 43 years ago, is surrounded by the unfinished homes, with ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ signs across the site.
‘Wherever I look, front and back, is fencing. I can’t get a wheelchair out in some parts. It’s been left like this now for 15 months, absolutely nothing has been done,’ he said.
Mr Stevens, who is a carer for his wife who is wheelchair-bound and has Alzheimers, says for a while, when work was ongoing, he was unable to get a wheelchair out due to the work.
Above all, he is frustrated that locals have been left in the dark about when they can expect work to restart.
Residents say nobody from Tai Calon, who is managing the site, has visited in months and they have had little to no communication about the future of the development.
Residents homes are surrounded by unfinished buildings, with ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ signs across the site
The houses around the site are a mixture of privately-owned and social housing, with the majority of residents having lived in the properties for decades.
Tai Calon say they regained access to the site in January but the current economic climate appointing a new developer ‘has proved exceedingly difficult’.
But for Mr Stevens and other residents in the area, this isn’t good enough.
He said: ‘They’ve been saying for 12 months that work would start in October. We were told that contracts would be issued in September and work to start in October, it hasn’t happened. They haven’t even issued any contracts.
‘Over a year ago they went bankrupt and nothing has happened since. They haven’t got the people capable of overseeing this development in Tai Calon. Tai Calon are totally responsible for this mess. They are absolutely useless.’
Mr Stevens said the land to the back of his house was sheltered accommodation – demolished to make way for this new development – and that the back was a green where children would play.
Pensioners have been living in the middle of an abandoned building site for over a year with their homes surrounded by mounds of rubble and half-finished buildings
Now, both are fenced off, protecting half-built structures and piles of bricks.
Another resident, who is in his 80s, said that the work, and subsequent state of the development has ‘taken away three years’ of local pensioners’ lives.
He says that the eyesore of the apocalyptic-looking building site is putting ‘an enormous strain’ on locals who have no idea when the land surrounding their homes will resemble anything more than a building site.
‘It’s an utter disaster. It has really taken away three years of us pensioners’ lives and at a time when we need peace and quiet. It’s put an enormous strain on people like myself but it has ruined the area completely,’ he said.
‘What was amazing was, nobody came and said ‘you’ll have a site manager and you’ll be looked after’, they came and just started. They’ve got no idea what needs to be done when you’ve got elderly people living around here. They come in with their big machines, shaking all the buildings. One day it was on stop.’
One resident said that the eyesore of the apocalyptic-looking building site is putting ‘an enormous strain’ on locals
‘We’re never told anything. You can only go by rumours. People have started to move away because of it, if they can.’
Anne Cadwallader, 81, lives directly in front of the development.
She has kept her property and garden pristine for 19 years she has kept her property and garden pristine.
Now, the view out of her large living room window is of abandoned structures and a wall of metal fences.
’19 years I’ve been here, I look after my home. And then when you open your door and look at that out there. I pay full rent here to open my door to that and it’s wrong, I think it’s wrong. It’s not a nice sight,’ she despairs.
Former steel worker, Derek Woodman’s family have lived in their property on Glanffwrd Close since 1975
‘It’s been going on a good few years now. They’re [Tai Calon] not getting anywhere with it. We haven’t heard anything, they were meant to start work again in October but we haven’t heard anything and work hasn’t started.
‘It’s not fair for us here, we’re all pensioners. And nobody is helping us. They don’t seem to care whether we know what’s going on or not.’
The works, which lasted from November 2020 to July 2021, have left a lot to be desired.
While the drainage and ground foundations appear to be completed, the actual building work currently comprises only of a hand full of empty, incomplete, structures.
Ray Stevens, who is a carer for his wife who is wheelchair-bound and has Alzheimers, says for a while, when work was ongoing, he was unable to get a wheelchair out due to the work.
‘It’s not even half done,’ says Ms Cadwallader. ‘The grass is up to your waist up there.’
The abandoned development has attracted fly-tippers and is starting to form a ‘dumping ground’.
Former steel worker, Derek Woodman’s family have lived in their property on Glanffwrd Close since 1975.
The 77-year-old says the state of the area and how it has been left now is ‘disgusting.’
He said: ‘It’s gone on now well over a year since work stopped. It’s not moving anywhere. I think it’s disgusting, looking out and seeing how it’s been left. It’s not very nice at all. We don’t seem to hear anything other than an odd newsletter now and again.’
The abandoned development has attracted fly-tippers and is starting to form a ‘dumping ground’
A spokesperson for Tai Calon said: ‘After a great deal of work and involvement by the local community, Tai Calon was delighted when work started at Glanffrwd. The development will provide much-needed new affordable homes in Ebbw Vale. However, when WRW went out of business, it was intensely frustrating that the building work stopped.’
A spokesperson continued: ‘Tai Calon eventually regained control of the site in January 2022. Since then, we have been working hard to appoint a replacement contractor. Given the current economic climate, that appointment has proved exceedingly difficult. The original hope was to award the contract in October, but there have been a few weeks delay. However, we anticipate being able to appoint a contractor very soon and then works can re-commence.
‘Tai Calon would like to thank the residents for their continued patience and will continue to provide updates on progress. We look forward to welcoming local families to these new affordable homes for rent once the work is completed.’
Howard Toplis, Chief Executive of Tai Calon said: ‘We fully understand the residents’ frustrations with the current situation. A frustration we share, and that is why we have sought to keep the residents updated, and if that has in any way been inadequate, then I would like to apologise.’
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