A crumbling council estate will be almost completely demolished. The only properties set to remain standing in Llanelli's Brynmefys estate are the three occupied houses and the ones adjoining them.
Built in the 1950s, Brynmefys was once a bustling neighbourhood but now 29 of its 32 houses are derelict. Roofs have wasted away, dense weeds have crept through smashed windows, some lanes have been sealed off, and flytipping has been a recurring problem. The three families still living on the estate have all been there since the '70s. Though the council owns the Brynmefys land, the occupied homes are owned by the residents.
Carmarthenshire Council has now announced it will knock down the majority of the estate having consulted with the residents, who are "supportive". A council spokesperson said the project is in the interests of "the residents themselves, the local community and the council".
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WalesOnline has asked if there are plans for the land after demolition, which is scheduled for November 2023. The council has not yet responded but it has said new social housing would not be "feasible" due to the "location and cost of redevelopment".
Leslie Southam, who lives in a well-kept house on the estate with his parents, spoke to WalesOnline last year about life in Brynmefys. The then-53-year-old hotel cleaner said at the time: "To be honest it's quite nice here. It's quiet. My mum's 80 and my dad's 79. They like it here. I am past caring... Carmarthenshire Council have been doing the same thing over and over for years. They seem to get money for this and that, then it disappears. We've had lots of different schemes but nothing has ever been done."
Leslie recalled Brynmefys was "absolutely full with cars and people and children" when he arrived aged seven. He said many residents moved out in the late '80s and the council did not replace the tenancies because it had a scheme for the site to be redeveloped. By the time funding fell through, many houses were derelict and unfit to be rented, said Leslie.
He said Brynmefys was not built to last, with sewage issues reportedly putting off developers. Another obstacle was the bats — a protected species — living in the empty properties. The council reportedly spent £60,000 building a bat house which Leslie said had always been empty.
A council spokesperson said: "[The neighbouring estate] Maengwynne was refurbished in the early 2000s. Due to the non-traditional construction of the properties on Brynmefys, however, they were unable to be refurbished using the same method as that used in Maengwynne.
"The council bought the majority of owner-occupied homes in Brynmefys and found alternative housing solutions for the residents. Some homeowners decided to stay at the estate. The council has tried to partner with private developers to develop the estate and, despite some interest, none have come to fruition."
Leslie's father bought their house in 1986 under Right to Buy. After most of the estate fell into dilapidation, the council said it gave three options to Leslie's family and the other two households. The first was an offer for their house. The second was an offer for their house plus providing a council house. And the third was an offer for their house plus buying them a home of their choosing within a budget. The council said all were rejected. It has not disclosed the value of the offers.
Back in 2010 a housing association scrapped plans to build 103 affordable homes at the site. Six years later the council said it was in discussions with "a number of potential developers interested in Brynmefys" but none made a deal.
The council commissioned an ecological report on the bat issue, which came back earlier this year. A council spokesperson said the demolition has been scheduled for November 2023 due to "ecological issues on the site and the ecological mitigation measures that will need to be completed". They added: "Existing residents on Brynmefys are fully aware of the plans and are supportive."
Speaking last year about his decision to stay in the neighbourhood, Leslie said: "It depends what you want in life. To be honest there isn't much left in life I want. I am not into drinking, I don't smoke, I don't go out. As long as I can go and get food I am quite happy."
He also said his decision had been influenced by his belief that the apocalypse was seven years away. You can read more about that here.
The council's deputy leader and cabinet member for homes Linda Evans said: “I am glad that, after a number of attempts to try to redevelop, we are finally able to progress with the work of improving the Brynmefys estate for its existing residents and the neighbouring community. I acknowledge that this process may take a bit more time because of the need to protect the wildlife but I am pleased we now have clear plans in place.”
You can read more of the latest news from Carmarthenshire here.
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