Housing developer Lovell has been selected by the Tirion Group to transform a former paper mill site in Cardiff with 800 brand-new homes.

Tirion is a not-for-profit organisation, initially created through a partnership between Welsh Government and Principality Building Society.

The development of the £100 million new urban village at the 53-acre former Arjo Wiggins Paper Mill site, in Canton, to the west of the city centre, is one of Wales’ largest urban regeneration programmes.

The construction programme is expected to create over 1,000 jobs, many for people living locally.

David Ward, chief executive of the Tirion Group, said: “This major regeneration programme will bring new life to one of Cardiff’s biggest brownfield sites creating urgently-needed quality homes in a sought-after location close to the city centre.

“We’re delighted to be working with the Tirion Group on this scheme which will also deliver considerable employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeships, for local people throughout the construction programme as well as new infrastructure and community facilities.”

Work began in December 2015 on the creation of the infrastructure for the development which will feature a tree-lined main boulevard with leafy ‘green streets’ branching off it.

Construction of the new homes will begin in Autumn 2016 with the first 102 homes for Tirion set to be completed by the end of 2017 and the development of 358 homes for sale set to be finished in 2022.