500-home former steelworks scheme set for approval

Plans to construct more than 500 homes on the site of the former Whiteheads steelworks in Newport look set to be given the green light when they go before councillors next week.The Whiteheads Development Company, via agent The Urbanists, lodged plans in 2015 for the 42-acre site in the Pillgwenlly area of the city.The proposals include 529 new residential properties, of which 265 would be affordable housing, together with 24 assisted living units.A pub/restaurant, retail units, a two-form primary school and highways infrastructure are also included in the plans.It is hoped that the scheme will stimulate economic growth though the creation of jobs, support for social enterprise and provision of training opportunities.The site is an area of brownfield land previously occupied by a steelworks. The Whiteheads plant was opened in the 1920s with more than 2,000 workers employed there at its peak. It was closed in 2005.Whiteheads Development Company is a subsidiary of not-for-profit organisation Tai Tirion, which was established following an alliance between the Welsh Government and Principality Building Society.Work to prepare the site for development began in 2016, following a previous award of planning permission, undertaken by civil engineering company Walters.The application will be considered by Newport City Council’s planning committee on 6 September 2017 and is recommended for approval in a planning officer’s report. This is subject to the signing of a Section 106 agreement .to secure a range of financial contributions.