A HOUSING landlord is building 247 new homes in Gwent worth nearly £21 million.

Melin Homes, a not-for-profit housing landlord, is building 112 new homes in Torfaen, 94 in Blaenau Gwent and 41 in Monmouthshire.

It already owns and manages more than 3,000 homes across Gwent.

Thirty-five of the 247 have been built at Clos Odyn, Pentwyn, which cost nearly £4 million to build, with the help of £2.3 million from the Welsh Government.

The houses, built by Leadbitter, were recently officially opened with residents getting the chance to meet Melin staff, Board members and Torfaen Assembly Member Lynne Neagle at the ceremony.

Resident Pat Gwyer, 69, said: “This bungalow has made a huge difference to our lives. Before we had the Melin bungalow my husband, because of ill health, had to sleep in the conservatory as he could not manage the stairs.

"I am now able to work in the garden, which I love, and still be close enough to hear my husband if he needs me.”

Melin Homes says 170 of the homes will be completed by the end of the year. The residences include flats, houses and bungalows.

Examples include 34 homes to be built in Garndiffaith, 15 in Rogiet and 20 in Swffryd.

All of the new homes being built by Melin will conform to level three of the code for sustainable homes, which means they have energy-saving features such as air source heat pumps and ways to reuse and recycle water.