NEWPORT City Homes is consulting with residents about plans to change the design of a Pill estate to make the area safer, cleaner and more attractive.

The major regeneration project, which was agreed by NCH's board of management in October 2010, aims to give one of Newport’s most rundown areas a boost.

Proposals will affect about 200 homes in Pill in the area surrounding Commercial Road.

Plans include 'opening up' the community by changing road-layouts, lowering fences, moving garages and creating more space between homes.

It is hoped the plan will make Pill feel more connected to the Newport community and allow children to play in safer and well overlooked spaces.

Pillgwenlly was built in the early 1900s and underwent a transformation during the 1960s and 70s when the terraced streets were replaced with, at the time, an award-winning estate.

It is now however generally thought that the design in the area has been instrumental in an increase in deprivation and crime, as well as causing access issues for emergency service vehicles.

NCH regeneration manager Marc Fury said: "This is a unique opportunity for the residents of Pillgwenlly to shape their neighbourhood and have their say in what their community could look like in the future.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank those residents we have spoken to so far for their fantastic contributions to the consultation exercise and to reassure residents who we have not spoken to yet, that we look forward to hearing their views.”

A consultation master plan will be discussed with residents before a final plan for the area will be created after the consultation process is complete.

Regeneration teams have begun knocking doors to discuss proposals with Pill residents and will be continuing their rounds over the next few weeks.

Any Pill residents who would like to contact the regeneration team can call Alison Godwin on 01633 227750 or Laura Phillips on 01633 227767

or email pill.regen@newportcityhomes.com

Updates will also be shared on facebook.com/NewportCityH and on twitter @NewportCityH