Gwynfaen
Finalist
Social Housing Project of the Year
Structural Timber Awards 2025
Finalist
Low Energy Project of the Year
Structural Timber Awards 2025
Shortlisted
Best Development of the Year (20m+)
Inside Housing 2025
Gwynfaen is more than just a typical housing development.
It’s a vision of ultra-low carbon, affordable living that invests in its community.
Reshaping what’s possible
Guided by the Welsh Future Generations Act, our clients, Pobl Group, set out to create a place that promotes resident health and wellbeing, while being deeply rooted in local heritage.
The development features 144 timber frame homes arranged around a natural landscape, with a village green and community hub at its heart. The design draws on the historic settlements and natural beauty of the Gower Peninsula, using Welsh timber and cladding sourced from sustainable woodlands within 100 miles of the site—some of it from as close as 13 miles away.
Pioneering construction methods
Working closely with local manufacturer, SO Modular, each home is built offsite using Category 2 Modern Methods of Construction. This ‘kit-of-parts’ system—made up of pre-insulated wall panels, floor panels, and roof cassettes using wood fibre — reduces embodied carbon, cuts waste, speeds up construction, and allows air tightness detailing to be done in a controlled environment to help the homes meet their ambitious energy targets.
Designed for low-cost living
In response to soaring energy prices, the homes generate their own energy through roof integrated PV panels linked to air source heat pumps, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and home energy storage batteries. Homeowners can expect energy bills to be much lower than an equivalent new build, making living more affordable while further aligning the Welsh Future Generations Act’s focus on resident wellbeing.
Creating healthy homes
A key requirement for the project was to achieve an EPC rating of A and a SAP score of at least 96% for every dwelling. We went beyond these standards, and undertook a comprehensive life-cycle assessment to help minimise embodied carbon. Together with the use of ultra low-VOC finishes and natural materials, each home offers residents a pollutant-free, healthy indoor living environment.
Fostering community connections
Prioritising the WFGA alongside other key design KPIs focused the project team on creating a cohesive, healthy community that evolves naturally.
A crucial part of this approach was designing the landscapes first, with the goal of creating biodiverse outdoor spaces that help bring residents together and reduce feelings of isolation. The development also connects to existing sustainable travel networks and incorporates flexible, inclusive spaces, fostering a vibrant, social, and sustainable neighbourhood.
The path to a brighter future
Gwynfaen looks to set a precedent for future housing projects across Wales. By providing affordable, sustainable homes in a community-first environment—while using local materials and labour—the development shows how large-scale developments can forge a brighter future, while still feeling connected to their heritage.
