From Controversial to Conventional

Informed sources say that today will see the last of Clwyd Alyn's tenants moving in to the new Glasdir site. This is the tenanted one adjacent to Taylor Wimpey's market housing. Clwyd Alyn's will then be completed. 

The site was controversial. There was even a petition against it. See our comments about that petition and the suitability of the( now-complete site), here.

There was certainly ill feeling towards the development, especially from those who had previously moved in to Taylor Wimpey's homes next door. It was perhaps a little ironic that for such a new estate as Wimpey's there appeared such an air of nimbyism. But the protests came to nothing, even though they the complainants forced them the social housing organisation to change quite radically the external design of the houses. 

Clwyd Alyn's housing, with the plainer Taylor Wimpey stock to the left rear

That design change proved to be a good. The estate looks both fresh and established at the same time. Given the energy efficiency of the homes and the design of them, this is a credit to Rhuthun/Ruthin and to the social housing giant. 

Four houses, two main designs

But what of future years? Will the modular design used in construction last the course? Will Clwyd Alyn keep on top of maintenance? In other words, will it deteriorate to the point where it is no longer admirable but atrocious? Next door on the Wimpey estate, there's already some evidence of a slip in upkeep. 

We all seem to have forgotten the fire that destroyed one of the Clwyd Alyn homes. In fact, so has Clwyd Alyn: in spite of asking their people on a number of occasions, no one is prepared to say officially what happened.