AFTER 20 years' service with Glamorgan and Gwent Housing Association Robert Smith was made chief executive on June 1.

It's a big job for the Swansea-born surveyor, being responsible for 3,500 properties, a turnover of £10 million and a staff of 80.

He began his career in the private sector, looking for houses to restore and sell on.

He was attracted to the independent housing sector because of the "long-term benefits" the development of a large property estate could bring.

"We're here to provide high quality accommodation and services to people who can't meet their housing needs through the private market."

His housing association is active on all fronts and in Newport is pioneering a new concept in independent living for older people.

Wellwood House in Hendre Farm Drive, Ringland, was completed 18 months ago and has 37 one-bedroom flats and three two-bedroom flats. The flats are self-contained and are rented to residents who can be as independent as they please. They can accommodate married couples, relatives or friends: it's up to the people who live there.

However, Wellwood House also offers a large lounge, hot meals, hairdressing salon, shop, laundrette and entertainment.

"The support that older people require varies. Some-times they need very little, sometimes they need a lot. Wellwood House was designed with this in mind and people have been overwhelmed by how good it is here."

Although the building is owned by the association, the care is provided by Newport council which is a long-term partner in the project.

The building offers good security with the TV in each flat being linked to a camera on the building's front door.

Visitors buzz the flat of the person they're visiting and the door can be released from the flat when the resident recognises them.

The £5m building is the first of its type in Wales and since opening has been visited by councils, housing associations and health authorities from all over the country.

They like what they've seen and the model is being copied across Wales. "Wellwood has a waiting list of over a hundred people and it could be longer than that but we don't want to give people unrealistic hopes," said Mr Smith.

In fact, Newport is about to get a second example, as the association is building another version in Bettws, next to the police station. "We aim to have four in Newport within the next two years."

Mr Smith said the beauty of the scheme was that it "marries the needs of health and housing".

The concept is attracting to many people who may be living in their old family homes but do not wish to move into full-time residential care.

By moving into a place like Wellwood every scrap of independence in maintained and those family homes can be used to accommodate the next generation of families.

Mr Smith anticipates other versions of Wellwood. Some may offer the flats for sale rather than rent. Others may be used as "step up/step down" facilities to solve bed blocking problems at hospitals such as The Royal Gwent.

He said: "Imagine somebody living alone has a fall and goes to The Royal Gwent for acute treatment. After a few days the hospital may be ready to release them, but it's obvious that they can't cope alone and have to stay in hospital for weeks or months.

"We could use a Wellwood-type project to provide bed-sit accommodation combined with an intensive programme to get them back on their feet fast."

Wellwood House has been co-funded by Newport council which Mr Smith praises for its enlightened approach.

"Some councils believe they have to own everything. But Newport realises that at the end of the day the provision of services is the important thing.

"Housing associations, un-like councils, can access private finance so by working together more ambitious projects are possible.

"We're working in partnership with Newport to provide a range of accommodation."

If they're all as successful as Wellwood then quality of life in the city is set to rise.