Twenty small flats have been transformed into fifteen modern and spacious flats at Edmund and Ambrose Streets in Hirael, Bangor.

The work, which is nearly complete, is part of a £1.5 million positive regeneration scheme being invested in the Hirael area, and tenants are due to move in later this month. The scheme also included the new Plas yr Wylan flats, that were completed earlier this year.

The work has been undertaken by Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG) housing association. The official opening was held last week, which gave tenants, staff and the local community an opportunity to see the transformation for themselves.

Mark Jones, CCG Chairman said: “As the larges housing association in north Wales, our main purpose is to provide people with affordable and comfortable homes. We are delighted with the investment we have made over the last year to help regenerate the Hirael area.

“When the Edmund and Ambrose Streets scheme was approved, there were nearly 200 people in Bangor waiting for a one-bedroom flat and 140 people waiting for a two-bedroom flat. We are very proud to be playing our part in providing much needed housing for the people of Bangor and it was very rewarding to see the difference these new homes will make to the lives of the families.

“The training, employment and community benefits generated from this scheme were outstanding, with contractor Anthony Dever far exceeding their targets. 160 training weeks were given to various individuals on the scheme, and for every £1 spent on the scheme £2 has been reinvested in the Welsh economy.

“It’s a very exciting time for us at CCG, as we continue to grow and provide more new homes to ensure that we can continue to be a part of the solution in providing affordable and good quality housing in areas of high demand. I hope the new tenants will be very happy in their new homes.”

Sion Robert CCG’s Assistant Director Property Management added: “This is the improvement scheme our internal repairs and maintenance team have been a part of, and I’m proud of the team – the quality of the work speaks for itself.

“This scheme allows the team to see what can be achieved, and is the first step towards us achieving our corporate target for growth. It also delivers many value for money benefits to CCG, and I hope we can work on other similar projects in the future.”