Wales is at a crossroads. Our homes, our communities and our future are under pressure, with old housing stock, shrinking supply, rising homelessness, a shortage of secure, sustainable homes. At Derwen May Homes we recognise the magnitude of the challenge. We also believe that with care, purpose and conviction we can help to meet it.
A Nation Living in Old Homes
Much of Wales’s housing stock is ageing. Over three decades ago a survey showed that roughly 32 per cent of all homes in Wales were built before 1919, before modern standards of thermal performance even existed. That means a large proportion of Welsh homes lack insulation, efficient heating or modern energy efficiency. This has consequences for comfort, for energy bills, and for the environment.
According to an analysis combining England and Wales data, the median energy performance score in Wales remains modest, emphasising that many homes fail to meet even basic standards of efficiency and comfort.
These legacy homes carry a cost and not just for individual households, but for Wales collectively. They tie people to homes that are inefficient, sometimes unhealthy, ageing, expensive to run. They reinforce inequality and limit the potential of many families.
Supply Is Shrinking When Demand Is Growing
Across Wales, housebuilding is failing to match need. Official statistics for 2024–25 show only 4,631 new homes completed, which is a drop from the previous year. Of those, the majority came from the private sector, but private delivery itself is weakening. The number of new starts is falling fast.
Much of the new build continues to be concentrated in higher-value areas where demand is strong. The result is a stark mismatch between supply and social need. Large swathes of South Wales, its smaller towns and working communities, are essentially frozen out of modern, energy-efficient and affordable homes. At the same time, the human cost is clear. Homelessness in Wales remains high. In 2023–24 councils assessed nearly 98.2 households per 10,000 as homeless, the highest rate since records began.
Thousands more are stuck in temporary accommodation or unwelcome housing, uncertain, insecure and often unsuitable. As of 2025, over 10,900 people were living in temporary accommodation across Wales, many families, including children. Behind every statistic lies a person, a family, a child, a future uncertain.
Homes in Wales Are Needed, But They Must Be Right
What Wales needs now is not just more houses. It needs good houses. Houses built with longevity, with energy efficiency, with care for the people who live in them. Houses that offer security, comfort and dignity. Houses that respect the land, the community and the future.
That is precisely why Derwen May exists. We believe that the answer to the housing crisis is not in volume alone. It is in quality, integrity and responsibility.
“Wales is facing a housing crisis that touches every community, and we all have a responsibility to respond with honesty and ambition. At Derwen May, we build with the belief that every home should offer dignity, comfort and a fair chance at a better life. This is not about volume or targets. It is about creating the right homes in the places that need them most and doing so with care, integrity and a long-term commitment to the people of Wales.” Huw Llewellyn, Managing Director, Derwen May Homes
We build homes that meet EPC A standards from day one, energy-efficient, sustainably constructed, ready for living today and built for tomorrow.
We design around people, not profit margins. We choose materials that last. We shape homes that resist the fuel poverty and inefficiency that plague older stock.
We believe that each new home we create should not just provide shelter, but offer a foundation for life with manageable bills, comfortable interiors, and the knowledge that the home itself respects people and planet.
A Different Kind of Developer for a Different Kind of Need
Our model at Derwen May is deliberately different. We are lean, agile and local. We work closely with trusted Welsh contractors and specialists who share our values of craftsmanship, reliability and community care.
We do not chase speculative volume. We seek partnerships, with landowners, housing associations, local authorities, and communities, to deliver homes that answer real need.
We are committed to building thoughtfully, sustainably, and where new supply is needed most: in towns and communities across South Wales, not just in high-value pockets.
Homes That Help Heal the Crisis
We respect that building more homes is only part of the solution. The rest lies in building the right homes, and in restoring balance. Each Derwen May development contributes to addressing poor housing stock, scarce supply and homelessness risk. Each home adds to quality supply, reducing pressure on temporary accommodation and helping provide a long-term place to call home.
We aim to offer stability and a move away from inefficient old homes, insecure rented properties or temporary roofs. We aim to give people the dignity, warmth and peace of mind that good housing brings.
A Vision for Wales, Built with Integrity and Hope
The scale of the challenge in Wales is daunting. But at Derwen May we believe in hope. We believe in communities, in detail, in quality. We believe that every home we build can contribute to solving a crisis.
Our commitment is to go beyond the minimum, deliver beyond the expected and build beyond the problems of the past. We build not just for today but for generations to come.
This is our vision for housing in Wales. This is the Derwen May way; grounded in care, crafted with purpose, and rooted in pride for the land and its people.
Contact us to learn more.