Sustainable Development Fund – BBNP Authority and ABC

In November 2011 ABC was awarded a grant of £20,000 towards the development of their community learning and participation programme for their pilot project, subject to their success with a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund. Unfortunately, we heard in early December that we were not successful with our HLF round 1 bid, which means we cannot take up this funding offer.

Britain’s Empty Homes films ABC

On 18 November 2011, ABC’s Joanie Speers and Roger Mears were filmed by Ricochet near Talgarth. The episode was broadcast on BBC1 on 9 January 2012 and now can be seen on BBC iPlayer. Our contribution starts 12min 50sec into the programme and lasts for all of 3min 35secs. Email response: I am writing to express my amazement after watching today’s show. We lost hope long ago that people like You even exist! It is such a great idea, worth spreading across all Britain.

AHF and ABC

In September 2011, the Architectural Heritage Fund awarded ABC a grant as part of their ‘cold spot initiative’ to encourage the development of building preservation trusts in areas of need.  ABC is using this award to identify and apply to a wider range of funding sources.

ABC appoints a new trustee

To expand the skills and knowledge of the ABC board, Anjuli Quartermaine has been appointed as our 5^th trustee.  Anjuli is from Llandovery and lives in Llanarthne. She is an assistant planning policy officer and is passionate about saving derelict vernacular buildings and providing affording homes (see under Trustees for more).

AHF Seminar in Swansea

ABC and Bro Myrddin made a joint presentation under the theme ‘exploring new partnerships’ at The Architectural Heritage Fund seminar, Breathing new life in built heritage; Tackling historic buildings at risk in Wales, which took place at the The Grand Theatre in Swansea on 3 March 2011.

ABC and Bro Myrddin made a joint presentation on 13 October 2010 at the Welsh Association of Preservation Trusts’ seminar in Llandrindod Wells, focussing on developing partnerships between building preservations trusts and housing associations.

Housing needs survey results

Carmarthenshire’s Rural Housing Enabler launched a housing needs survey on 14 January 2010 in Bethlehem, Gwynfe, Myddfai, Llangadog and Llanddeusant. Some results of the survey, published at the end of May 2010: 889 surveys were sent out; 229 were returned (26%); 54% support (and 34% ‘maybe’ support) refurbishment of redundant buildings to provide affordable housing; 13 households are currently in need of affordable housing. For more information on the survey, contact ABC.

Public meeting, Llanddeusant

On 27 November 2009, ABC hosted a public meeting at Llanddeusant Community Hall. Joanie Speers spoke on ABC; Phil Roberts, CEO of Warm Wales, spoke on affordability; Lynne Beer, Carmarthenshire’s Rural Housing Enabler, spoke on a housing needs survey. A survey for Bethlehem, Gwynfe, Myddfai, Llangadog and Llanddeusant will be sent out in January 2010.

Welsh Assembly Government and ABC

It is now recognised that the fundamental principles of ABC are in line with Welsh Assembly policy to improve and increase the delivery of affordable housing, especially in rural Wales. ABC is specifically fulfilling the recommendations of the June 2008 Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report on housing in rural in Wales: to use redundant buildings, to involve local communities and to adopt bold and innovative approaches.

Redundant Rural Buildings – an untapped resource

On 1 October 2009, ABC and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust presented a seminar at The Prince of Wales’ Welsh residence, Llwynywermod. Closing remarks were made by the Deputy Minister for Housing, Welsh Assembly Government, Jocelyn Davies. For notes on the proceedings, download pdf.