29-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Newport property gets new lease of life as social club
The site, at 119-121 Chepstow Road, Victoria Ward, Newport, will see its ground floor converted from its previous retail/community use to a club featuring seating, a bar, and the sale of coffee, snacks, and alcohol.
The application was approved with conditions on May 28, and will operate on restricted hours of 8am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight Saturday and 10am to 11pm on Sunday and Bank Holidays.
The property's location is notable, situated in Maindee District Centre, and it falls within a Flood Zone 3 (defended) and an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
The premises have a varied history of use, having been an estate agent from 2008 to 2015, a bridal shop and estate agent post-2015, a Kurdish community centre, and most recently, a retail unit.
The surrounding area comprises a mix of commercial properties, including a restaurant, barbershop, and nail salon, with some residential properties located at the rear on Duckpool Road.
The proposal was assessed against several planning policies, including the Future Wales – National Plan 2040, Planning Policy Wales Edition 12 (2024), and the Newport Local Development Plan (2011–2026), among others.
The assessment highlighted that the club's presence is in keeping with a district centre location and does not undermine retail functionality.
Parking and accessibility requirements, which necessitate one commercial space and eight car spaces based on the club's size, were considered.
However, due to the premises' existing community centre designation and the proximity of public transport and pay/display parking, these concerns were mitigated.
The club will be subject to several conditions to minimise its impact on the surrounding area.
These include restrictions on the use of the rear external area to protect the residences on Duckpool Road and limitations on opening hours.
The club will only be allowed to open from 8am to 11pm from Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight on Saturdays, and 10am to 11pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
Any cooking of hot food will also require prior approval for extraction systems.
Five objections were raised in response to the proposal, primarily concerning potential alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, gambling concerns, and parking issues.
However, authorities, including Gwent Police, Highways, Natural Resources Wales, and Waste services, raised no objections.
The police also had no concerns about potential anti-social behaviour.
The proposal was ultimately deemed to align with planning policies, particularly given its location within a district centre, sustainable transport access, and the absence of significant harm to amenity or infrastructure.
