New Housing at Ty Hapus, Cwm Road, Llandudno

This development transforms a brownfield site in central Llandudno, formerly a redundant Multi-Use Games Area, into a high-quality community of affordable homes. Working in partnership with Grŵp Cynefin and First Choice Housing Association, the project addresses the acute need for affordable housing in Conwy by revitalising an underutilised urban plot into a sustainable residential neighbourhood.

The scheme is driven by a commitment to technical excellence and resident wellbeing, adhering to Lifetime Homes Standards, Welsh Government Development Quality Requirements (WDQR) and Secured by Design Gold principles. Utilizing Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the development delivers a fabric-first approach that ensures high thermal efficiency and a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

This robust, technical design response received support from the Welsh Government as an exemplar of resilient urban development. Through active stakeholder engagement and the presentation of a unique technical justification, AGA and the wider team successfully secured planning approval at Committee, overcoming initial recommendations for refusal by planning officers and Natural Resources Wales following observations regarding significant flood risk. AGA led a multidisciplinary collaboration involving the client, contractor and consultants to investigate and implement a suite of innovative flood-resilient and recoverable measures, incorporating a robust ICF external wall build-up.

The site’s layout capitalises on the Southerly orientation, enhancing passive solar gain and natural light within the homes. The dwellings are arranged to ensure natural surveillance of all public and semi-public spaces, creating a safe, legible environment. Placemaking is further enhanced by the use of native hedging and biodiversity-rich planting, which provides a distinct sense of identity. Each residence benefits from manageable private or shared gardens, with carefully considered defensible space and hard landscaping to provide residents with privacy and security within the urban context.