A HOUSING company owned by Carmarthenshire Council is keen to crack on with schemes in Burry Port and Llansteffan.
Cartrefi Croeso wants to build 30 affordable houses and flats for rent on land at Glanmor Terrace, Burry Port, and 16 houses at the rear of Maesgriffith, High Street, Llansteffan.
They are among several sites earmarked by Cartrefi Croeso for development in the county, including ones in Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli.
The council’s executive board has now approved up to £6 million for the company over the next five years, which will need to be repaid with interest.
A number of conditions have been set relating to the release of the £6 million, which will operate as an overdraft arrangement.
Full council will now need to agree to the recommendations.
Referring at an executive board meeting to the Burry Port and Llansteffan projects, councillor David Jenkins said: “Construction can now proceed with these schemes, subject to a funding agreement from the council being given.”
Cartrefi Croeso began trading in July 2018 and is forecasting a slight underspend this financial year.
Most of its expenditure has been on pre-development advice and engineering works for the two most advanced sites.
The company will help the Plaid Cymru-Independent administration with its pledge to deliver 1,000 affordable homes during the current term.
Councillor Linda Evans, cabinet member for housing, said more than 650 had been delivered to date. Not all are new-builds – for example the council has taken over and rented out a number of empty homes.
The council will earn income by selling land to Cartefi Croeso and also by lending money to the company. Some of the houses built will be sold on the open market.
Speaking last November, Cartefi Croeso managing director Robin Staines said: “The majority of our homes will be affordable, to either rent or buy.”
