A £1 million scheme to transform a derelict former slaughterhouse into valuable social housing has won a major award for a top builder.

Anwyl Construction have built a terrace of eight eco-friendly three and four-bedroomed houses on the brownfield site in the heart of Amlwch, on Anglesey.

And the tenants of one of North Wales’s leading social housing organisation, Clwyd Alyn Housing, were in in time for Christmas and Anwyl’s work has now been recognised by the National House Building Council.

They have presented the Rhyl-based company with a prestigious Pride in the Job Quality Award with the handover taking place on site to Anwyl Construction Site Manager Roy Hammans.

John Hayward, NHBC Regional Inspection Manager, said: “These awards are now 34 years old and they recognise excellence in site management in the house building sector and Anwyl Construction have been the recipients on a number of occasions.

“In total 13,000 sites have been inspected across the country and this was one of just 420 to receive an award.

“Roy began with Anwyl Construction at 16 as a trainee groundworker and he has displayed all the skills he has learned to win this award because it has been a very tight site to work on.

“It hasn’t been an easy build but it has been very well run and all the details have been very good.”

Roy, 43, from Prestatyn, said: “The site was quite awkward because it is very narrow and there have been some complications because it was a former slaughterhouse built on the site of an old farm.

“There was also an old culverted river running under it all the way from Parys Mountain which didn’t appear on any maps or plans and so we had to work around that as well but it has turned out very well.

“The houses are all Code Three sustainable with very high energy efficiency and extra insulation along with solar panels to help heat the water as well as rainwater collection systems.

“It’s great to see it looking so well now and with families all having moved in and it’s brilliant to have won an award.”

The client is also pleased and Barry Evans, Housing Officer for Clwyd Alyn Housing Association who manage the new homes, said: “It’s great that local families were able to move in before Christmas.

“The scheme is one of a number of initiatives that we have progressed in partnership with Isle of Anglesey Council to provide a range of affordable housing options for local people on the island.”