Historic homes built for World War II survivors are to be demolished after 74 years for new housing development

• The Penrhos Polish Village, near Pwllheli, in Wales, was formed in 1949 
• But developers now want to replace the buildings and build ‘affordable’ homes

A village of historic homes which were built for World War II survivors are to be demolished after 74 years in place of a new housing development. 

The Penrhos Polish Village, near Pwllheli, North Wales, was formed in 1949 when rows of wooden barracks were used to house Polish soldiers and their families who had fled the war.

Developers wanted to replace the buildings and build ‘affordable’ new homes in their place despite the village’s residents, who are now in their 80s and 90s, still living there. 

They now face having to move again 74 years after they first arrived following a council vote to go ahead with the plans submitted by Clwyd Alyn Housing Ltd. 

One resident, 90-year-old mum Maria Owsianka, who moved to North Wales with nothing having fled war-torn Warsaw after the Nazi invasion said the community ‘did not expect to be forced out of our homes yet again’. 

Homes in the Penrhos Polish Village (pictured), near Pwllheli, North Wales, which were built for World War II survivors are to be demolished after 74 years in place of a new housing development

Developers wanted to replace the buildings and build ‘affordable’ new homes in their place despite the village’s residents, who are now in their 80s and 90s, still living there 

One resident, 90-year-old mum Maria Owsianka (pictured), moved to north Wales with nothing having fled war-torn Warsaw after the Nazi invasion

Ms Owsianka said: ‘We all came to Penrhos at the end of our lives in the expectation of a safe haven. 

‘We did not expect to be forced out of our homes yet again. We’ve been saying this for two years, but Clwyd Alyn haven’t listened.’ 

Her daughter, Barbara Owsianka, who is also a campaigner and had spoken at the meeting against the plan, said: ‘We are very disappointed the vote went against us, but it was close.

‘It’s heartening that nearly half of the council listened to what we have to say and didn’t vote for this application. 

‘I just hope Clwyd Alyn takes that on board, and will listen to the residents.

‘I hope they will make the residents central to their plans instead of their grand development to build essentially just a housing estate at this stage, everything else seems to be a wish, somewhere out in the future.

‘In this application, there is nothing that describes the replacement of any of the communal services and facilities the elderly folks rely on, like the hairdresser’s or the launderette.

‘A lot of people will be terribly worried, many don’t want to be moving in their 80s and 90s, some are very comfortable and happy in their bungalows.

Ms Owsianka said the community ‘did not expect to be forced out of our homes yet again’

A concept drawing of the plans which have been submitted by Clwyd Alyn Housing Ltd

‘We are not against development, there are areas where it is run down, but the developers need to speak more to the residents to find out more about the facilities they need. 

‘I have heard several elderly people say they are just waiting for us to die, it is heartbreaking.’

Officials at Gwynedd Council voted seven to five in favour of the plans with one councillor abstaining.

Under the plans an existing church, canteen and dining room would remain, along with a memorial garden.

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