Plan For 20 New Apartments On Patch Of Land Left Vacant For 40 Years
A vacant and neglected plot of land in Newport left undeveloped for more than four decades, might soon be transformed into a hub of affordable housing. The brownfield site, based in the Gaer neighborhood, is the subject of redevelopment plans submitted to the Newport City Council. The proposal briefs the construction of 20 one-bedroom apartments. According to the outline, each of them should be suitable for up to two people and accessible through Marryat Walk.
The apartments are built with functionality in mind, featuring an open-plan kitchen, lounge, and dining areas, along with a bathroom equipped with a storage cupboard. Additionally, each unit will have a hallway complemented by a store cupboard. Externally, the apartments are designed to equip a contemporary aesthetic, constructed from red brick with a grey-colored render above. Balconies with glazed doors and screens are proposed for the rear of the development, enhancing the open-plan areas of each home.
This initiative follows a prior grant of planning permission for nine homes on the same site. The current application, submitted by the Castell Group and a registered social landlord, underscores a response to the pressing need for affordable housing. Local residents participated in a pre-application consultation, expressing concerns about potential parking issues and the three-story apartment building’s impact on neighboring properties.
In addressing these concerns, the applicant assures compliance with city council guidance regarding parking and proposes “landscape buffers” to mitigate the impact on existing homes. They emphasize existing “mature, established vegetation” between the proposed apartments and neighboring properties. Furthermore, concerns about the nature of residents and potential anti-social behavior were dismissed as “not a material planning consideration” by the applicant.
LRM Planning Ltd, the agents involved in the proposal, highlight the city council’s calculation of an annual shortfall of 559 affordable houses in Newport, including a deficit of 35 social rent homes each year in the Gaer neighborhood. With other types of affordable housing considered, this shortfall rises to 57. In light of these statistics, the proposal, aiming to deliver 20 much-needed affordable homes, is considered justified.
The application is currently open for consultation and can be accessed on the Newport City Council website under reference 23/1109.
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