Residents at an affordable housing development in St Clears have celebrated the official opening of the 45-home scheme.

Maes Yr Hufenfa - named after a former creamery and butter factory which once stood on the site, the £8.9 million development is Wales & West Housing’s first affordable housing scheme in the town.

It provides homes for more than 100 people including around 40 children who live in the development of 31 houses, 4 bungalows and 10 apartments.

Cllr Linda Evans, Deputy Leader and Housing Cabinet Member at Carmarthenshire County Council was joined by WWH Group Chief Executive Anne Hinchey and Chair of the WWH Group Board Alex Ashton as she cut a ribbon to officially open Maes Yr Hufenfa.

They were joined by local county councillors Philip Hughes and Carys Jones, the Mayor of St Clears Annalyn Davies and Deputy Mayor Owain Grant, staff and Board members at Wales & West Housing and partners from Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd.

The homes at Maes Yr Hufenfa have been built in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and Welsh Government. Construction took two years and was carried out by lead contractor Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd.

All homes are built to the highest EPC rating A and are fitted with air source heat pumps for heating and hot water and PV (Photovoltaic) panels to generate electricity for the homes.

During the official opening Cllr Linda Evans said: “The demand for housing today is at its highest ever. Carmarthenshire County Council has over 9,300 homes and is building new homes, but to respond to the need we are grateful to housing associations like Wales & West Housing for their commitment to work with us.

“Maes Yr Hufenfa is a perfect example of what we can achieve when we work together to meet the needs of local people and families who need homes.”

As well as providing homes for local people on Carmarthenshire Council’s housing waiting lists, the development created 25 jobs during the construction and has supported several community projects.

These included projects with pupils at neighbouring Ysgol Griffith Jones and the 2nd St Clears Scout Group. WWH also provided sponsorship for St Clears Carnival 2023 and new kit for St Clears AFC Football Club.

As a lasting legacy, WWH is also working with St Clears Town Council to create a community woodland on a two-acre site behind the homes that can be used by local students and other community groups.