Cartrefi Conwy managing director from Llanrwst who masterminded £30million modernisation programme retires

Gwynne Jones, who is originally from Llanrwst, joined Cartrefi Conwy after it was created by a majority vote by tenants in 2008 in favour of transferring the 3,800 properties from the ownership of Conwy County Borough Council.

Among his proudest achievements is planning a £30 million modernisation programme of the properties and bringing them all up to the required Welsh Quality Housing Standard.

Cartrefi Conwy was one of only a handful of social housing landlords to complete the mammoth task by the 2012 deadline, set by the Welsh Government.

A ceremony marked a double coup for Cartrefi Conwy in 2019 when it was praised for managing the first Welsh housing estates to be awarded with Green Flag status.

Mr Jones, who now lives in Ruthin, said: “The opportunity to work for Cartrefi Conwy was one I could not have refused really because it gave me the chance to make a significant difference to our communities.

Cartrefi Conwy Housing Tre Cwm estate, Llandudno. Picture: Mandy Jones

“The mission to create communities to be proud of has been the driving force of the organisation from day one.

“When you look back at 2008 after the financial crash, Cartrefi Conwy was investing heavily in the local economy, creating jobs and providing work experience and training for our tenants.”

Six years ago the Peulwys estate in Llysfaen, above Old Colwyn, became the first to receive the internationally-recognised accolade after a £4 million environmental improvement programme.

The Tre Cwm estate in Llandudno followed suit after an £1.4 million transformation which reconnected youngsters there with the natural environment by creating communal areas which families can enjoy and where children can safely play.

Cartrefi Conwy Housing Tre Cwm estate, Llandudno. Picture: Mandy Jones

The work came on top of the £2.75 million spent by the housing association to improve the estate’s houses, flats and maisonettes which were built in the 1970s.

Mr Jones is also proud that Cartrefi Conwy has set up an award-winning subsidiary, Creating Enterprise, which has set up an Employment Academy and is now building modular, carbon free homes and providing work and job opportunities.

He has also played an important role in developing a £45 million strategy to build 428 homes over the next three years.

Mr Jones's was recognised at the Welsh Housing Awardslast December when he received the outstanding commitment award.

His career in social housing began when he started out as a temporary rent collector for the old Arfon Borough Council in 1987, later working for the then Denbigh-based Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, now part of Grŵp Cynefin, before joining the newly-formed Cartrefi Conwy as operations director in 2008.