First tenants for Rhyl housing co-op

An urban community co-operative housing project in Wales is set to welcome its first tenants this summer.

With support from the Wales Co-operative Centre, Afallon Housing Development West Rhyl Co-operative was set up by West Rhyl Community Land Trust (WRCLT) and North Wales Housing (NWH). The co-operative will be based by Gerddi Heulwen urban development greenspace in West Rhyl, and hopes to build a new and empowered community of 11 families, couples and individuals.

To be considered for the co-operative, potential tenants had to have lived, worked or volunteered in Rhyl for at least two of the past five years and were assessed on their suitability against key criteria.

“The scheme proved to be extremely popular, with 45 applications for the 11 properties,” said Fiona Davies from West Rhyl Community Land Trust. Applications were whittled down through a selection process which included home visits and assessments which considered the roles expected of them.

“We’re really excited to start working with the tenants who all showed enthusiasm towards making a difference to their new community,” added Ms Davies. “Afallon is Welsh for ‘blissful place’, and we are confident that through co-working and democracy, our new community will be.”

The co-op’s new properties, which will be completed this summer, have been developed with investment from the Welsh Government, North Wales Housing and West Rhyl Community Land Trust, Pennaf Housing Group, Denbighshire County Council and Rhyl Town Council.

Tenants will take responsibility for issues such as the reporting of repair and maintenance concerns and will have the potential to decide how the landlord’s management allowance is spent. Elected members of the co-operative will also attend regular management committees – with two WRCLT members and two NWH members – to voice collective opinions and cast votes on issues that may affect their community.

“Local communities making decisions about their homes can make a huge, positive difference and housing co-operatives are communities set up in accordance with co-operative values and principles,” said Dave Palmer from Wales Co-operative Centre. “These communities are more collaborative and democratic, and they encourage and support local community control in their immediate neighbourhoods.

“Afallon is a unique housing development which will provide new build and refurbished homes to a brand new community made up of carefully chosen tenants.”

Paul Diggory, chief executive North Wales Housing said that being part of one of Wales’ first urban community housing co-operatives is “exciting for everyone”.

Seeing members meet for the first time at our training session was a landmark in the development, and one step closer to moving in and managing the co-operative,” he said.