Housing Minister visits development managed by female-led team in Cwmbran

On 15th July, Julie James AM, Minister for Housing and Local Government, visited a new female-led award-winning development, in Cwmbran with NHBC to see how the site is delivering much needed, quality new homes for the region.

The Housing Minister visited Barratt & David Wilson Homes’ St Michael’s Gate development, close to the town centre of Cwmbran. The Minister was led by the site manager Rebecca Roberts, who recently won an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award, in the first round of the competition. Rebecca is one of only 11% of women currently working in construction.

Led by Barratt’s Construction Director Jon Twamley and Paul Edwards, NHBC’s Regional Director, Julie James AM was shown around the development. They discussed how NHBC works with builders to raise standards and increase the quality of new homes, as well as the importance of developing communities, and social and affordable housing. St Michael’s Gate has provided the community with 68 affordable homes, helped create over 900 jobs and will be home to over 6,500 trees, plants and shrubs for the residents to enjoy.

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK.

Minister for Housing and Local Government Julie James AM said: “I would like to thank the NHBC and Barratt Homes for showing me around the St Michael’s Gate development earlier this week. I have made it clear of my intentions to improve the quality of private housing that is being built, and will continue to work with organisations such as NHBC, as well as the house builders, to ensure sufficient quality homes are being built in the right areas in Wales.

“Building more affordable housing and providing people with safe, warm and secure homes is a key priority for this Welsh Government. The affordable homes on this development will contribute towards our commitment to build 20,000 affordable homes during this Assembly term and I look forward to seeing this development once completed.”

Paul Edwards added: “We were extremely pleased to show the Minister around this great development and discuss a range of key issues in the Welsh housing sector. This Barratt site, managed by Rebecca, is helping to provide high-quality new homes for people living in and around the Cwmbran area, and which will all benefit from the 10-year NHBC Buildmark warranty.”