A NEW £1m housing scheme is looking to provide affordable homes for local people to rent in the popular North Pembrokeshire town of Newport.

Wales & West Housing (WWH) is working on the project with Pembrokeshire County Council

And has contracted Haverfordwest company WB Griffiths to build eight new homes at Iard Y Parrog after buying the former Parrog Yard site from the Newport Town Council.

When the development is completed later this summer, the two-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments will be allocated through Choice Homes Pembrokeshire local letting scheme to local families and individuals in need.

Popular with holidaymakers and second home owners, property prices in Newport are above the national average, putting many homes out of the reach of local people and making it difficult for these people to afford to live in the place where they were born and bred.

According to the property website Zoopla, the average price of a two-bedroom house or apartment in the town is £238,328 and a semi-detached home is £287,760.

WWH housing manager Glenda Bowen said: “There is a great need for these homes in Newport. People from the town have had to move out of the area where they grew up just because they can no longer afford to live there.

“We want to make sure people are given the opportunity to bring their families up in the place where they belong at a rent they can afford.

“We are working with the local authority and Newport Town Council to make sure the new homes at Iard Y Parrog are allocated to those local people needing housing.”

  • To qualify for homes under the Newport Local Letting Scheme, applicants must:
  • Live in the Newport Town Council area as their only or principal home, and have done so for at least the last 12 months, or
  • Not currently live in the Newport Town Council area as their only or principal home but have lived in this area for at least five out of the last 10 years.
  • Have a housing need and been awarded a gold band, silver band or a priority card.
  • Ensure that their household is the right size for the home they are bidding for.

To register, visit choicehomespembrokeshire.org or contact Wales & West Housing at wwha.co.uk/parrog/Newport or call 01239 712013

WWH currently manages homes at Feidr Fach, Maes Ingli and Cysgod y Dderwen in Newport and is currently building 14 new homes at Feidr Eglwys.