Residents are invited to attend a public exhibition to find out more about plans for Parc Hadau, a new neighbourhood with around 35 carbon neutral homes in Rhydyfro, Pontardawe.

The site of the new homes, which are being proposed by Wales-based zero carbon housebuilder Sero Homes, is currently a scrubland that has been allocated for housing in Neath Port Talbot’s Local Development Plan.

The contemporary scheme has been designed by Penarth based award winning architect practice Loyn & Co and incorporates extensive landscaping by Farrer Huxley, also award winners, to maximise green space and encourage and integrate nature and wildlife.

The innovative new net zero carbon homes will use low energy building design, as well as incorporate a mix of renewable energy, storage and intelligent, automated management systems (that will be managed by Sero Homes’ sister company, Sero Energy), to reduce the amount of energy being used, with any unused electricity being fed back into the Grid. The scheme will also promote active travel and each home will be equipped for electric vehicle charging.

Andy Sutton, director of design and innovation at Sero Homes said: “We’re really excited to be sharing Parc Hadau for early feedback from the community – these new homes show our ambition to redefine what everyone should be able to expect from every new home. We believe that helping to build communities with true zero carbon, great quality homes that cohabit with nature should be what we all are asking for from housing, what we all deserve, and what we should all be able to afford.

“Our whole approach is about balancing and integrating people, community and the environment, and our plans would create a wildlife friendly, beautifully designed and landscaped addition to Rhydyfro, aimed at establishing a strong sense of local community and identity.”

Based on a model more common on the continent, Sero Homes is proposing that the purpose-built homes will be available through long-term, index-linked tenures, addressing the need for quality, affordability and long-term security for residents within the growing private rental sector, and avoiding the barrier of high deposits which prevent people from getting on the property ladder.

James Williams, managing director of Sero Homes said: “The Welsh Government has recently announced a climate emergency, and UK government has announced a zero carbon target for 2050. We are delivering the answers to these huge challenges right now, at Parc Hadau, and we’re doing this in a way that makes these homes affordable to far more people.

“Our aim is to establish a new ‘normal’ for housing – by showing that we can do things differently to deliver high quality, modern, zero carbon homes that are fit for future generations.”

Sero Homes will be unveiling its plans at a public exhibition from 4pm until 8pm on Thursday, July 4 at Arch Hall, Cefnllan Rd, Pontardawe, SA8 4ND.

More information is available at parc-hadau.wales.