Major new Newport homes plan gets green light

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Station RoadImage source, Telford and Wrekin Council
Image caption,

The land lies to the west of Station Road in Newport

More than 300 homes and 70 apartments are to be built in a Shropshire town after a long-running bid by developers was given the green light.

Bloor Homes was praised by a councillor for taking the wishes of the local community into account in drawing up the final scheme for land in Newport.

The proposals will see a mix of houses and bungalows being built as well as 60 affordable homes and care apartments.

As a condition of the plans, Bloor will pay £3m towards local infrastructure.

Public open space and a multi-use games area will also be built, as well as the retention of Hutchison Way walking route, which was set to be diverted under previous plans for the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Image source, Telford and Wrekin Council
Image caption,

Councillors want a 30mph limit extended past the new Station Road access

Addressing Telford and Wrekin Council's planning committee, external, Church Aston and Lilleshall councillor Andrew Eade said: "Let me first make clear my total opposition to building on green-field sites, but in particular this site, which is not only a major entrance into Newport but also a very pleasant buffer between the communities of Newport and Church Aston.

"However, I would like to say that on balance, and to their credit, Bloor have been quite open to listening to our concerns and have accepted quite a large number of requests and suggestions to their original scheme."

Image source, Telford and Wrekin council
Image caption,

Housing developer Bloor was praised for listening to residents' concerns about its original plans

The extra care flats will be marketed as affordable rented homes and be managed by Wrekin Housing Group, which director Simon Thompson welcomed after struggles to find a suitable site.

"An extra care site, or a site for older persons, in Newport has been a bit of a holy grail for us for many years now," he said.

The development will represent about a £13m investment by the group, supported by £4.2m from Homes England which had already been secured, he said.

Mr Thompson added work would start "as soon as possible".

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