The LGB, who by this time were acting as a quality control for local housing schemes, refused to lend money for the Class ‘B’ houses until amendments were made to increase floor space. For reasons not specified, the Housing Committee did not see fit to amend the designs and so the LGB would only sanction loans for the Class ‘A’ and ‘C’ houses. The Council immediately began (22) building 8 houses (4 Class ‘A’ and 4 Class ‘C’) next to the exhibition site at Mayhill Farm, Townhill. The development was sufficiently small to be adequately handled by the Council itself and so the houses were built by Direct Administration, whereas the Exhibition houses were built by various private builders. In February 1910, the Estate Agent was able to report to the Committee that not only had the houses been completed, but that the 8 had been completed at a cost of £300 beneath the lowest tender for the job (23). This is one of several instances where Direct Administration was seen to be superior to private sector building and from this point on the Council becomes very favourably disposed to Direct Administration, particularly after 1919.

The wonderful indian summer of 1910 saw a constant flow of visitors make their way up the steep hill of Terrace Road and Pen y Graig Road to wonder at the beautiful houses with tasrteful decorations and furnishings by some of Swansea's most prominent department stores including Ben Evans. To make the occasion a day to remeber, a small ornamental garden was laid out with a pavilion for tea and cakes so that people could linger over the fine views of the bay and the 'ideal homes' that offered so much above the dirt and grime of the town. The local newspapers, sceptical at first over concerns for ratepayers money being wasted were quickly won over by the 'Garden City' concept.

These first 8 houses are particularly significant. The exhibition cottages were purely for exhibition and I know of no instance where their design was taken and replicated. The Council’s cottages, however, are the first instance in South Wales of a local authority building on Garden City principles. Their success was immediately apparent and, upon their completion, plans were initiated to build a further 100 on the Mayhill site. (24) These further 100 houses were never built because of other important events that intervened. However, the 8 cottages are revolutionary in the face of the street developments at Baptist Well and Trewyddfa and also in comparison with developments in neighbouring local authorities.