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Work is now underway on a new 58-flat development in the heart of Blackwood.

The Lower Plas Court development, which includes one three-storey apartment block and one five-storey block, is being built next to Blackwood Market and the bus interchange.

The flats, which are expected to be completed early next year, will be classed as affordable and made available to rent through the Caerphilly Council common housing register.

Caerphilly-based housing association United Welsh is behind the new homes, which it said will be off-gas and built to “high levels of energy efficiency.”

Celtic Offsite, a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by United Welsh, is manufacturing the timber frame structures for the new flats from its factory on Pontygwindy Industrial Estate, Caerphilly.

The structures will arrive on site complete with fitted insulation and windows, with the build then finished on-site by development contractor Castell Construction.

The plans were narrowly backed by the council’s planning committee in August 2024, amid concerns over the height of the buildings – while the designs were described by objectors as “echoes of the 60s”.

At the time, Blackwood councillor Andrew Farina-Childs raised concerns the flats would “alter the demographics of the town” – but council planning officer Liz Rowley said there is a “desperate need for this type of accommodation within the local area”.

Victoria Bolton, director of development and regeneration at United Welsh, said: “Lower Plas Court will provide much-needed affordable housing along with wider community benefits created through our partnership with Castell Construction.

“We look forward to seeing the positive difference this will make for local people, and to providing warm, safe homes that support residents to thrive.”