400th residents enjoy hassle-free move
South Wales Argus: 7 November 2005
(by Jane Helmich)
NEW HOME IS A JOY TO BE IN 
A £40 million housing regeneration project in Newport reached a significant landmark.
Margaret Baldwin became the 400th resident of one of the new bungalows built to replace the City's prefabs.
She and her husband Alban moved into their purpose-built bungalow in Bishpool Court – one of seven estates involved in the regeneration scheme.
It involved the demolition of more than 600 prefabs, built as temporary properties just after the end of the Second World War because of a severe shortage of housing, and the construction of 500 new homes.
Newport Housing Trust, an organisation specifically created by Newport City Council to manage the project, employed Fairlake – part of the Newport-based Seren Group – to act as development agents.
It co-ordinated the provision of all the design and project management services for the project and negotiated with 150 prefab owner occupiers.
Mrs Baldwin said: “I'm thrilled with my new bungalow. I had the chance to select one of seven different layouts, a choice of colours, style and finishings.
“My move was completely hassle free – I had just undergone a major hip operation so was struggling with that but thankfully I was helped with all packing and unpacking and even the small detail of my mail re-direction was organised.”
Newport Housing Trust Chief Executive Phil Toms said: “This project has been the largest social housing project in Wales for many decades.
“It has injected some £40m of investment into Newport and the 500 new bungalows especially designed for older people are a unique resource in the UK,” he added.
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