Newport Housing Trust was established on 19th March 2001, as the result of a partial stock transfer, of approximately 600 prefabricated bungalows, across 7 sites, from the then Newport County Borough Council (NCBC). The Trust was set up as a registered social landlord, registered charity and a private company limited by guarantee.

We were set up because Stock transfer to other bodies, such as Housing Associations is fast becoming the way to provision of good quality social housing. This is because we are not restricted and are able to borrow money privately to make up the investment shortfall not met by public grant. There is also a growing need for properties suitable for older people, and whilst the access needs of these were met in the prefabricated bungalows, their dilapidated damp conditions with poor insulation meant they were difficult to keep warm with increasing heating costs.

The Arcon Prefabricated bungalow and the prefab estates.

The prefabs were originally intended as a short-term housing solution after the 2nd world war, where there was a desperate shortage of family accommodation. So successful were the prefabs as a housing solution, for over 50 years there has been little change in occupancy or of the community profile. Consequently over 95% of the prefab occupants were aged 60 and over.
However, one of their major downfalls of the estates was their layout. Rows of prefabs were located off footpaths which meant there was no vehicular access directly to some properties. In addition, this led some residents feeling isolated particularly where mobility issues restricted them from getting out and about. Furthermore, many of the sites are sloped in some way, which meant some had a number of steps up to the front door. In order to bring the accommodation up to modern standards the only solution was to demolish the properties and rebuild. This would enable the Trust to address both the issues of improving energy efficiency in the properties as well as improving the estate layouts. It set out to provide improved level access up to and around the property as well as off road parking for 1 vehicle per bungalow.

Enabling the stock transfer

To enable the stock transfer, the prefab tenants had extensive consultation to vote whether they were in favour of the stock transferring to another organisation, to enable a complete redevelopment of the estates. As some of the prefabs on the estates had been bought by it's occupants under the Council's Right-to-buy scheme, prefab owners were also asked to vote (out of courtesy) as the redevelopment would be better facilitated if it included owned prefabs.

Achievements to date.

Throughout this extensive redevelopment project, the Trust prides itself on the level of consultation it had with the prefab residents to ensure that they had a real say in the future of their new homes. The Trust and its partners have worked hard to maintain the communities and to carry out the development with dignity, care and respect for its older residents.