Latest news with #NewportLocalDevelopmentPlan
South Wales Argus
30-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Plans to revamp Tredegar House play area submitted
Tredegar House's existing play park, which no longer meets modern safety or accessibility standards, is set to be revamped according to a proposal submitted by the National Trust. The new facility aims to enhance visitor experiences, support inclusive access, and align with heritage sensitivities. The current equipment, which has reached the end of its life, will be replaced with new, sustainable materials, providing accessible play for children of various abilities. The park will remain in its current location within the grounds of the Grade II* registered historic park and garden of Tredegar House—a Grade I listed 17th-century mansion. The site, partly screened by mature planting and adjacent to informal lawn areas, is noted for its good access and natural surveillance. The existing play area, while modest and visually unobtrusive, is deteriorated and lacks accessibility features. The proposal aligns with national and local planning policies. These include Future Wales – The National Plan 2040, which emphasises placemaking, historic preservation, green infrastructure, and recreational spaces, and Planning Policy Wales, which stresses the importance of sustainable development and well-being, particularly in relation to historic environments. The Newport Local Development Plan, which spans from 2011 to 2026, also supports the proposal. The plan's policies focus on the conservation of natural, historic, and built environments, the protection of registered historic landscapes and gardens, safeguarding land for recreation and play, and the protection of biodiversity and the natural environment. To preserve the historic character of the site, the equipment has been selected to reflect the character of the gardens. The low-impact, context-sensitive design avoids interference with key sightlines and preserves mature planting. The proposal is considered to have a "neutral to low impact" on heritage assets, offering public benefit in inclusive access and site engagement. The National Trust is seeking planning permission and listed building consent for the project. The decision now rests with Newport City Council, the planning authority overseeing the application. The application was submitted on July 15 and is awaiting a final decision from the council.
South Wales Argus
21-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Plans to turn Newport office space into care accommodation
The proposal for 22 Chepstow Road, Newport, seeks to repurpose a vacant commercial property into 10 units offering communal facilities, including a kitchen and lounge. The building, previously divided into individual offices, would see no significant structural changes, with proposed updates centring on aesthetic improvements like new windows. The plans, detailed in a Planning, Design and Access Statement from April 2025, state the aim to maintain the building's character while enhancing sustainability and access. The design aligns with both local and national planning policies, promoting the reuse of brownfield sites and buildings. The proposed development has been evaluated against several Newport Local Development Plan policies, including those concerning amenity, accessibility, design, housing standards, and urban regeneration. The accommodation will offer 24/7 onsite staffing, with the team including 10 scheme support officers, three housing coordinators, one lead project worker, and a part-time manager. Support services are set to include case management, health and housing support, and community engagement. The target tenants are adults experiencing homelessness who have complex needs such as mental health issues or substance misuse problems. Each resident will be assigned a keyworker, with support tailored to individual needs. The broader objectives of the support include ensuring housing stability, safety, improving physical and mental health, and fostering independence. The application highlights that this type of supported housing is in line with the Newport Housing Support Programme Strategy 2022–2026. The strategy has identified a gap in supported housing for individuals with complex needs, including women and care leavers. The property is well-served by public transport and is within walking distance of shops and services. Environmental and access considerations have also been accounted for, with the plans detailing biodiversity enhancements, compliant waste storage, and inclusive access features. The scheme aims to boost the building's visual appeal and improve community integration, with the design of the curtilage and staff presence aimed at supporting community safety. The application concludes by arguing that the development is appropriate in principle, meets both local and national planning requirements, and should be supported subject to reasonable conditions.
South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Newport: Clarence Place shop to takeaway plan rejected
The application for the Grade II listed building at 12 Clarence Place, Newport, was submitted by A Q Xavier. The proposal included the installation of a 7.3m high and 500mm wide extraction flue pipe at the rear of the property, which was deemed "visually intrusive" and potentially damaging to the historic brickwork. The decision to refuse the application came after several issues were identified. These included the absence of a listed building consent (LBC) or a heritage impact statement, both mandatory for listed structures. The ground floor shopfront was also unfinished, lacking proposed details or drawings for necessary alterations. The environmental health officer evaluated the odour risk from the proposed kitchen extraction system as high, with very high grease output and close proximity to residential bedrooms. No noise impact assessment was submitted. One public objection was received from a nearby resident at Flat 53, Old Arts College, citing concerns about "late night noise – delivery drivers, customers and staff… odours… E-bikes and scooters blocking pavement… late night working and associated noise, disturbance and littering." The principal heritage officer also objected, stating: "A large stainless-steel flue would completely disrupt the harmony and character of the terrace's rear elevation… damaging historic fabric." Despite the commercial location of the site and some support for reusing the long-vacant unit, these issues were deemed unacceptable under policies SP9, GP2, and GP7 of the Newport Local Development Plan. The application was refused due to the potential harm to the listed building's character and inadequate information on key elements, along with potential adverse impacts on residential amenity through odour and noise. The decision was made after the statutory period, which expired on May 30, 2025, and was recorded as a delegated decision.
South Wales Argus
07-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Brynglas Road, Newport, could become shared house for six
A planning application has been submitted, seeking permission to convert a three-bedroom house on Brynglas Road into a six-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The application, submitted by LRJ Planning Ltd on behalf of Mr Grainger Jones, includes plans to add a new window on the first-floor front of the property. The house is in a residential area with good access to public transport and local amenities, which means it is close to essential services. The proposed development aims to provide affordable, shared accommodation in a central urban location. The design has been planned to fit in with the existing look of the street. The new front-facing window will be built to match the style of neighbouring homes. The planning statement says the new use will not lead to too many HMOs in the area, following Newport City Council's rule that no more than 10% of homes within a 50-metre radius should be HMOs. The development is expected to have no major impact on neighbouring properties in terms of noise or disturbance. A detailed parking survey included in the application shows that there is enough on-street parking even during peak hours, despite the property not having off-street parking. The house's closeness to public transport and walkable amenities means it is classed as a sustainable development, which reduces the need for private vehicles. The application has been checked against national planning guidance, including Planning Policy Wales and the Newport Local Development Plan (LDP). The proposal meets policies on sustainability, general amenity, highways, HMOs, and parking, and supports objectives outlined in Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021. With a growing demand for flexible, low-cost accommodation, the proposed HMO at Brynglas Road is expected to offer a useful housing option for individuals, especially those without regular access to a car. The application states its commitment to improving housing diversity while maintaining neighbourhood integrity. The application was submitted and validated on June 19 and is currently under consultation until July 15. The public can comment on the application before it is decided by the council. People can see the full application on Newport City Council's planning portal using the reference number 25/0496. The official description of a HMO states: "A HMO is a house that is occupied by more than one household and where more than one household shares an amenity such as a bathroom, toilet, or cooking facilities. "A household is a single person or members of the same family who live together. "This includes people who are married or living together, relatives, and half-relatives."
South Wales Argus
05-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Newport High School: plans for new security fence approved
The plans, submitted by M. Legge, propose enclosing a 4.4 square metre area at the front of the school's main reception with 2.4-metre-high green powder-coated weldmesh fencing and double access gates. The school, which also houses the Active Living Centre, is located on Bettws Lane in the Bettws ward. The planning application, numbered 25/0270, was considered under a range of policy frameworks, including Future Wales: The National Plan 2040, Planning Policy Wales (Edition 12) 2024, and the Newport Local Development Plan 2011–2026. Thirty-five neighbouring properties were notified of the proposal, with no objections received. A site notice was also posted on April 18, 2025. The Landscape Officer observed the potential for a visual impact but did not object due to the small scale of the proposal. No response was received from Ecology officers. The application was granted with conditions. These conditions include that the development must be carried out in accordance with submitted plans, and a scheme for ecological enhancement must be submitted and approved before commencement. The new fencing is designed to increase security at the school, enclosing a small area at the front of the main reception. While there was some concern about the visual impact, the school's large building is expected to offset any negative effects. The application was also assessed for its impact on residential amenity, with no negative effects anticipated due to the lack of direct impact on residential properties. The proposal was also deemed to have no direct ecological impact. However, an enhancement scheme, which could include the installation of a bird box, is required as part of the conditions for approval.
