New homes given go-ahead but parking pressures branded ‘a joke’

An “overgrown” former industrial site in Newport could be transformed into 30 affordable homes.

The city council’s planning committee has given its unanimous approval to plans to redevelop the land, off Kelvedon Street, for residential use.

Neighbours had complained about the potential impact on parking, but planning officers said the expected demand for visitor spaces could be accommodated on surrounding streets.

Formerly the home of a commercial printing business, the now-vacant site has “significant potential to bring urban redevelopment” to the area, senior planning officer Joanne Davidson told the committee on Wednesday.

The 22 one-bed and eight two-bed apartments, if completed, would be contained in a single building up to 10.6 metres in height, and each home would have its own balcony.

The properties would reportedly be managed by Newport City Homes – which has recently merged with fellow housing association Melin Homes to form a new organisation, Hedyn.

Ms Davidson said the initial proposal placed the apartments closer to Witham Street, but was moved further away from existing homes on council officers’ advice.

She told the committee the proposal for the site “is welcomed, is positive… and the residential development is considered appropriate”.

But during a public consultation period, the council received 33 objections from nearby residents, who said the area suffered “constant parking problems” and feared the new apartments would “generate significant additional traffic in an area already burdened by high vehicle usage”.

They also raised concerns about the new homes potentially overlooking their properties, pressure on local services, and flood risk.

The proposals include six visitor parking spaces – and a council report suggested additional visitor parking “can be accommodated on-street at various times”.

However, one objector to the application claimed that suggestion “surely must be a joke”.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms Davidson said planners “understand parking is in high demand” at some times of day, but “in parking terms the proposal is acceptable” and the site is in a highly sustainable location.

Committee chairman Cllr Mark Spencer added there were “ample parking spaces around the area”.

Ms Davidson also said the new homes would be “well in excess of” minimum distances from existing homes, and the building’s ground floor level would be raised using retaining walls to mitigate any flood risks.

Natural Resources Wales had judged any risks of flooding “can be managed”, she added.

Cllr Gavin Horton, who also represents the Victoria ward where the new homes have been proposed, said the decision to move the proposed apartments further away from existing homes was “sensible”, adding he “can’t see anything wrong with” the redevelopment.

Cllr John Reynolds noted the residents’ many concerns, but said Newport had a “desperate need for social housing” which “far outweighs these issues”.

The committee granted planning permission, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement covering potential developer contributions to affordable housing, education and leisure services.