From house to home - Powys family welcomes Deputy Leader

4 August 2025

It's not just about building homes - it's about building futures. That's the message from Powys County Council's Deputy Leader, who visited a family in Ystradgynlais to see how they've settled into their new council home.

Courtney James and her family moved into one of the four two-bedroomed properties at Parc Brynygroes, which were purchased by the council as part of ongoing efforts to tackle the housing emergency and provide more affordable homes for local people.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, spoke to Courtney as part of his visit to see the new homes that were purchased as part of an 'Off the Shelf Scheme' from Morgan Homes, who are building 110 new homes at Parc Brynygroes.

Speaking after the visit, Cllr Matthew Dorrance said: "It was a real pleasure to visit Courtney and see how well her family has settled into their home. Hearing how much this home has meant to them was incredibly moving.

"It's clear that these homes are making a real difference. They're more than just bricks and mortar — they're the foundation for a stronger, fairer, and greener Powys.

"Everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to live, and I'm proud that we're delivering on that promise through our investment in high-quality council housing."

Sharing what the new home means to her, Courtney said: "I feel very grateful to have been offered one of these new build homes with Powys County Council.

"We have settled in very well and it's a lovely neighbourhood to bring up my young daughter. It's a lovely area and I look forward to seeing how it develops as they continue to build more environmentally friendly homes."

The four homes were secured as part of the planning agreement for the Parc Brynygroes development, which required a portion of the site to be allocated for affordable housing. The remaining homes will be sold on the open market by the developer.

The purchase of the four homes supports the council's 'At Home in Powys - Housing Business Plan', a five-year programme to increase the number of secure, high-quality homes available for social rent across the county.