10-07-2025
St Paul's Church, Newport, to be converted into nine flats
St Paul's Church in Commercial Street, Newport, will house six two-bedroom and three three-bedroom units across three floors.
The full planning application for the conversion was submitted by A. Brown, and was approved on July 3, 2025, with conditions.
A separate listed building consent application is still pending.
The church, known for its late Georgian architecture, sits adjacent to Newport city centre.
Although not within a designated flood zone, its location near the St Woolos Conservation Area has drawn interest.
The conversion will involve significant internal changes, including the installation of new partitions and staircases, as well as roof lights for the attic flat.
A notable alteration will be the replacement of stained glass windows with clear glazing.
The original stained glass will be repurposed within the building.
Externally, the building will be refurbished, and additional space will be allocated for bike and bin storage.
Previous planning applications for the site include a listed building consent for 20 flats, which was refused, and an external lighting application, which was granted.
The new development has received support from several quarters.
The Highways Authority, Environmental Health, and the Principal Heritage Officer have all expressed no objection, provided certain conditions are met.
The Senior Scientific Officer recommended car-free or ultra-low emission vehicle restrictions due to the site's proximity to an air quality management area.
The ecologist and Natural Resources Wales accepted a bat survey and noted the need for ecological enhancement measures.
The tree and landscape officers required tree protection and the use of suitable seed mix for urban meadow areas.
Heneb, the Gwent-Glamorgan Archaeological Trust, recommended Level 3 historic building recording as a condition.
Welsh Water confirmed foul drainage capacity and stipulated that no surface water should be drained to the sewer.
No public objections or representations were received.
The scheme aligns with policies promoting the sustainable reuse of vacant land and buildings.
Despite being a former community facility, the building's long-term vacancy and poor condition justified its reuse.
All units meet internal space standards.
Flat 9 in the attic has limited outlook but acceptable light and ventilation.
The lack of private outdoor space is mitigated by proximity to city centre facilities.
Contributions for affordable housing, education, and leisure, which totalled more than £115,000, were waived following an open book assessment confirming the scheme's unviability.
Conditions attached to the approval include requirements for detailed construction management, sound insulation, biodiversity enhancements, waste strategy, archaeological recording, landscaping management, and protection of historic and landscape features.
