ON March 9, 2009, Newport became the first city in Wales to successfully transfer its housing stock.

Newport City Council and Newport City Homes signed agreements that saw 9,750 rented homes, leaseholders and shared-ownership properties – and more than 300 staff – transferred to the not-for-profit social landlord.

The move unlocked £240 million of investment in the city’s homes to bring them up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

And since then, NCH has brought nearly 9,000 homes up to the WHQS requirements.

A spokeswoman for NCH explained: “We were provided with information about the homes that were transferring to us as part of the stock transfer process. This helped us understand what improvements were needed to the homes and communities in which they were situated.

“Our priorities were derived from resident feedback. Our initial priority was to improve the internals of homes, such as the kitchens, bathrooms and heating.

“Following the completion of the internals programme we began to address the external elevations of our homes and the environments around them.”

At the same time, NCH embarked on a project to improve the tower blocks.

“These projects required a different approach due to the complexities of their construction and the layout of the communities they are located in,” added the spokeswoman.

Hundreds of homes have since received external wall insulation, including in the areas of Broadmead, Moorland and Maesglas.

Around £2.5m has been committed to improving estate layouts, while another project will see communal flat entrances are currently being remodelled and improved.

Plans in the near future include regeneration of the Pillgwenlly area, which is currently going through the planning process – a £5 million-plus scheme to realign roads, paths and improve homes and the environment.

There will also be improvement works in the Somerton area and further regeneration schemes, such as the demolition of the Hendre Farm flats in Ringland.

The spokeswoman continued: “We are currently in the middle of a roofing and external works programme which has seen 2,200 homes complete so far with more to come over forthcoming years.”

Another programme that is currently running is the environmental programme which includes improving paving, parking areas, fencing and walls. After this, there will be a program to upgrade homes’ loft wall insulation.

Director of asset management, Nick Hampshire said: “We will continue to invest in our homes and communities and work alongside Newport City Council with the aim of making Newport a vibrant place to live and work.”

NCH’s have also made changes to the estates surrounding their properties.

It was explained that they will be making improvements to the Old Barn neighbourhood over the next year, including estate enhancements and the remodelling of flats.

The spokeswoman said that the Gaer estate is very popular and hasn’t needed large scale change to date.

She added: “We anticipate significant changes around the Ringland Centre. In the last month we have started demolition of two maisonette blocks and garages that were unpopular with residents.

“Plans for the future of the site have not yet been decided.

“The larger Ringland community has benefitted from a range of estate improvements including redesigning parking areas and removal of garage blocks that had previously attracted antisocial behaviour activity.”

All of the work costs money, and NCH’s admits that rents have increased, but the increase is in line with Welsh Government guidance.

The spokeswoman added that the rents would have increased if the homes had been retained by the council.

After every piece of investment or major repair works that NCH’s undertakes all residents are given a feedback form about the work to make sure that the tenants were happy with the work.

Last week, The South Wales Argus was given access to one of three of Newport’s landmark buildings that have been totally transformed in a £12.5-million refurbishment programme.

On the outside the buildings look totally different - once drab they are now covered in insulated, coloured aluminium panels.

But the transformation has also gone on inside the flats.

Assembly minister for communities and tackling poverty, Lesley Griffiths, visited Newport to see at first hand the result of the investment.

She visited tenants at Greenwood, the 1970s block in the St Julian’s part of the city.

The minister, greeted by board chairman of Newport City Homes, Chris England, and chief executive Ceri Doyle, was invited to take in the views from the recently refurbished penthouse apartments before visiting two residents in their homes to get their opinion on the renovations.

Greenwood was originally built in 1974, and from 2013 each of the 83 flats has received a new kitchen, bathroom, double glazing, heating system and they have been re-wired.

Resident of 30 years, Michael Bowers, age 70, originally lived in one of the block’s bedsits. But following the works has moved into a one bedroom flat, complete with a balcony.

He said: “I needed the extra space as I have a large collection of books and most of them had to be stored in boxes, but now I can display them on shelves.

“It’s a lovely flat and I have great views.”

Eric Lines, 56, moved into his flat in February.

He said: “I’m really happy here as the flat is lovely so I could just move straight in with no decoration required.

“I have got to know my neighbours along my corridor and there is a common room and it’s a lovely community here.”

The works have been carried out by main contractor Wates Living Space.