New homes on former church site
For more than a century the former Presbyterian Church of Wales Trinity Chapel in Pencoed provided a religious sanctuary for English-speaking locals to worship.
Wales & West Housing has now redeveloped the site as Trinity Court, providing safe and secure homes for local people.
The chapel closed in 2017, owing to a fall in congregation numbers. Wales & West Housing worked with Faith in Affordable Housing, an initiative led by Housing Justice Cymru, to buy the site for much-needed affordable housing. Our long-term construction partners P+P Builders of Torfaen then moved in to redevelop the land into 12 one-bedroom apartments.
At the front the old chapel gates and boundary walls have been renovated and two of the former chapel pews have been kept for residents to sit on in the private rear garden.
A spokesperson for Faith in Affordable Housing said: “When Trinity Chapel was opened in 1907 there were very few English-speaking chapels and for over 100 years it was a place of worship for English-speaking congregations. We’re pleased to see the site is continuing to support the local community by providing affordable housing.”
Most of the residents who have moved into Trinity Court were all affected by the current housing crisis and with a shortage of affordable homes many were living in temporary accommodation. They were among the hundreds of people who were registered on Bridgend County Council’s housing waiting list for a one-bedroom affordable home.
Father-of-three Ian was living in his daughter’s dining room for four years
Falklands veteran Ian had been waiting for years for a home he could afford to rent following the breakdown of his marriage. The father-of-three was living with his daughter and her family in a makeshift bedroom in their dining room and was desperate for his own space.
“My daughter has been my rock. She converted her dining room into a bedroom for me and I’m really grateful to her, but I’m pleased to have a place of my own so they can get on with their family life.”
“I tried to find a place of my own, but all the private flats were way out of my price range,” says Ian, who is unable to work due to a series of illnesses.
Before moving in, Ian was helped by his Tenancy Support Officer to access grants to get a fridge and cooker for his new kitchen.
“That really helped with the moving in costs. I can’t thank them enough.
“My quality of life will improve so much with my new flat. My son lives close by, and I can walk to his house to see my grandchildren and they can visit me. It’s going to be so much better for my mental health.”
Fresh start for friends
Neighbours and friends Chris and Tawanda met when they were living next door to one another in temporary accommodation following a breakdown in relationships with their families.
They are hoping their new homes at Trinity Court will give them a fresh start.
Tawanda had been helped by Emmaus South Wales, a charity which supports people out of homelessness, before moving to temporary B&B accommodation in Porthcawl where he met Chris.
“I was close to living on the streets because I didn’t have family support, but I want to show I can better myself. For the first time I’ve kept a job for a long period. I’ve been working in a supermarket for a year and now I have a place to call home. I want to prove to people that I can make something of my life.”
Chris had been sofa-surfing and living in a friend’s shed when he moved into the same B&B as Tawanda six months ago.
“I was on the brink of going to jail, but I turned a corner. I’ve been clean for 12 months. I’ve got a job helping to build the new bus station in Porthcawl and I’m rebuilding my relationship with my family. “
“Drugs is a choice, being homeless isn’t! I’ve been homeless for four years, since I was 18, but I’ve chosen to make a better life for myself. Having a new flat will give me the chance to carry on turning my life around.”