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Residents living in a Welsh village street may have to leave their homes after a council agreed to start talks on buying houses that are at risk of flooding . A recent decision by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council means discussions will begin with residents of 1-16 Clydach Terrace in Ynysybwl on agreeing a financial figure for the proposed acquisition of the properties. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has said a flood defence scheme for the street, which has suffered from past flooding events , is not viable. Negotiations between the council's appointed valuer and residents of the affected Clydach Terrace properties will involve discussions over an appropriate value for the homes and compensation. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here A further report will be taken to cabinet following the outcome of the negotiations to seek approval to proceed with the next steps. It follows a previous decision to engage with residents to assess their future housing needs given the ongoing risk of river flooding. A previous council report said there is a significant ongoing risk to health, safety and property from river flooding from the Nant Clydach. During Storm Dennis in February 2020, the 16 homes on Clydach Terrace were rapidly inundated with flood water with internal flooding up to 1.96m in depth. Further flooding was experienced during Storm Bert in November 2024. In June 2025, NRW published its Ynysybwl Flood Risk Management Outline Business Case. This looked at several possible flood risk management solutions for Clydach Terrace, including the construction of a raised flood defence wall. But the assessment found this was not an economically viable option under UK and Welsh Government funding rules for flood risk management purposes. NRW said the proposed flood defence wall would need to vary along its length between 3.5m and 4.5m above road level to provide a good level of protection at a cost far outweighing the estimated economic benefits even when uncertainties are considered. The alternative option of purchasing the most at-risk properties was also found to be not cost-effective and not eligible to receive flood defence grant in aid funding from the Welsh Government. The council report said residents of Clydach Terrace continue to live with the ongoing flood risk in the knowledge there is no viable proposal available to protect their homes.
