TENANTS are almost ready to move into a new £1.8 million row of houses in Newport, eight years after fire destroyed all the homes that side of the street.

Marlborough Road in Maindee, became the scene of a disaster film in August 2007, when a blaze from a factory behind the houses caught hold in the residential area.

For years the gutted buildings lay derelict after their owners had to move away, but now developer Seren has built a new row of houses in their place.

Mohamed Ghani, aged 29, was born and bred on Marlborough Road. Looking out at the houses opposite his doorway, he said: “It beats the rubble that was here before. It was an eyesore for four or five years, maybe longer. They have been quite productive since the work started – you can’t really complain about what they’re doing.

“I was here when the fire happened. My mum was alive then and I just remember it being carnage. The amount of time it took to stop the blaze. We were out of the house for 24 hours and couldn’t even pick anything up from the building; all I had was the clothes on my back at the time.

“I was more worried that my mum was in the house. My concern was trying to make sure she was okay. I was by Jubilee Park when I heard about the fire and police wouldn’t let anyone through. I managed to jump over garden walls to get in and make sure mum had gone. That was what I was most edgy about because at the end of the day, a house is bricks and mortar but a mum’s a mum. You only have one and family is more important than anything in this life.”

More than 80 firefighters were called to the scene back on August 7, 2007, when a fire broke out at the joinery workshop. About 100 residents were evacuated from 35 houses and many people were left homeless by the blaze, which was later found to have been accidental.

Since the fires residents lobbied for years to have the homes rebuilt.

Mr Ghani said having the new row of houses was transformational, even changing the way the street sounded. “Just having the buildings there makes a real difference because it reduces the noise from the train. Now my door doesn’t rattle – it used to keep me awake at night and I had to sleep in the back bedroom to get away from the noise,” he said.

Neighbour Kasim Ishaq, aged 34, also lives opposite the new houses on Marlborough Road. “It’s nice to have something back here. It has been a disgrace and I hope we have some good people move in”, he said. “Before [the new development], people were using the houses to take drugs. The new houses feel more modern compared to the previous houses. It’s a pity we can’t buy them.”

People still remember exactly where they were when the fire took hold.

“I was in London when the fire started and my dad and my brother were here”, Mr Ishaq said. “I got a phone call to say the factory was on fire so I came back. As I came down the road all you could see was black everywhere. We were evacuated and I stayed at my sister’s house.

“My auntie’s house was one of the houses that burned down. She has moved away from this street now – the majority of people whose houses burnt down haven’t come back and I think it will be mainly new people coming in.

“The new development is good but it’s not brilliant - because still the people we grew up with we can’t see anymore because they left.”

Seren bought the land at Marlborough Road from the council in March 2014 and since then have built nine three bedroom houses and four one bedroom flat, set to be finished in November this year. All 13 affordable homes were designed to be in keeping with the other houses on the street, paying particular attention to the bay windows.

Some of the houses have already been provisionally offered to tenants looking for homes via Home Options Newport, the city’s common housing register, and Seren are currently shortlisting tenants for the remaining properties. Some of the one bedroom flats will be available to people hit by the ‘bedroom tax’, imposed on households deemed to be too small for the larger property they are living in.

Tenants will be able to buy the houses in whole or in part.

Nasser Hussain, aged 43, has lived on neighbouring Harrow Road for twenty years. “The new houses look nice – they have made them so they’re similar to the rest,” he said. “They’ve done a really good job. One minute there weren’t there, and the next there’s a row of houses. They were derelict for quite a long time. A couple of people didn’t have insurance. One woman went to London and came back to find out her house had burnt down. She kept all her gold at home so it was devastating.”

Rhys Parry, new business and development manager at Seren Group, said: “We are extremely pleased to be reaching the end of what has been a long and difficult journey for local residents. The fire that started in the former joinery business on Marlborough Road destroyed numerous houses and devastated the local community. We have worked closely with Newport City Council and the Welsh Government to develop this site to provide much needed affordable housing for local people. Our new scheme comprises 13 high quality new homes designed sympathetically to reflect the style of the properties within the local area. Located in a popular and very established area of the city, these homes will benefit both the local residents of today and those of future generations.”

Marlborough Road timeline

-August 7, 2007

Fire breaks out at Limebright Joinery, 80 firefighters called to deal with flames that can be seen across the city.

More than 100 people are evacuated from 35 homes. Over 260 homes left without power as flames damaged nearby electricity station.

-August 8, 2007

Some residents living opposite the fire site collected belongings from their homes while others found their houses destroyed. Katy Cook finds items stolen from her home. Residents whose houses escaped damage return home.

-August 11, 2007

South Wales Fire and Rescue say Limebright Joinery did not breach any fire regulations.

-August 21, 2007

Health and Safety Executive opens its investigation into the fire.

-November 2007

Residents who lost their homes are rehoused by insurers or the council.

-February 2008

As rubble remains on Marlborough Road Newport council consider helping towards the £90,000 of cost the clear up.

-December 12 2008

Residents still waiting for the full fire report to be published so they can agree settlements with insurance companies.

-January 6, 2009

Residents presented with completed fire investigation report, which found the cause to be accidental.

-July 2013

A planning application for the new houses is submitted to the council

-March 2014

Seren buy the final plots of land at Marlborough Road from the council and construction begins

-August 2015

The houses have gone up with small additions such as some of the windows still to be done

-November 2015

Builders expect the houses to be finished.