Homes on one of UK's 'most polluted' streets to be demolished for £6m
More than £6 million has been awarded to go towards demolishing homes on Wales' most polluted street.
The Welsh Government and Caerphilly Council will buy and then knock down homes on Woodside Terrace and Hafodyrynys Road, in Crumlin, in order to improve air quality.
Proposals to demolish 23 homes on the A472 started three years ago, following the nitrogen dioxide levels being recorded as the highest in the UK outside of central London in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, it was revealed there were 69 units of nitrogen dioxide in the air. The legal amount is 40 units.
The levels of air pollution on the road have been deemed "dangerous", making it an unfit area for people to live in.
Some of the houses are valued at around £80,000 but would cost families about £120,000 to buy a similar house within a few miles. Part of the Welsh Government funds will go towards helping families buy new homes.
Martin Brown and his wife bought a house on the polluted street in 1969. He said the traffic on the road in the last eight years has been "horrendous". Despite the pollution and traffic, Mr Brown said moving out of the area after 50 years is "heartbreaking".
Lesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs said: "It is of the utmost importance we take action to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels to below legal limits in the soonest time possible to protect public health and the natural environment."
The project is due to be completed in December 2021.