Just a handful of people remain in the Latimer Close prefabs in Broom Hill.

Most have been moved on to new estates by the council and the rest are waiting for their new homes to become available.

More than 30 remaining prefabs are due to be demolished by August to make way for nearly 120 bungalows and houses as part of a redevelopment scheme.

About 50 prefabs have already been taken down and most of the 33 remaining empty homes are boarded up and paths on the estate have been fenced off.

The flattening of the Broom Hill site will be the latest in a series of projects to replace Bristol City Council's ageing prefab housing stock.

The remaining tenants did not wish to speak to the Post but are said to be looking forward to moving into their new homes when they become available.

Developer Bovis Homes is working with the council to put up a mix of council and private housing on various sites across the city.

It has now emerged that more of the new homes to replace Bristol prefabs will be taken over by a social landlord due to the recession.

Sovereign Housing has agreed to buy 100 properties on the four sites – in Hengrove, Speedwell, Whitehall and St George.

No arrangements have yet been made for the housing association to buy properties on the Broom Hill site.

Plans have been approved for 119 homes in Latimer Close, mostly two-bed units, with 23 three-bed homes and two four-bed houses.

The scheme includes bungalows, maisonettes and apartments.

As yet the recession's impact on building works has not slowed progress at Broom Hill.

Bristol City Council spokeswoman, Vicky O'Loughlin, said: "So far this has not directly affected the Latimer Close projects as works were not scheduled to start until later in 2009, but the financial situation is affecting start dates throughout the country.

"Forty-five of the new council houses on other phases have already been completed and are now occupied and a further five sub-phases are due to start in the coming months delivering further council homes."