Homes plans for former university campus site approved

PLANS to turn the former Caerleon university campus site into a new housing development have been approved.

Housebuilder Redrow has secured planning consent from Newport City Council to develop 219 homes on the former University of South Wales-owned site.

A resolution to grant planning permission was passed by the local authority’s planning committee back in January.

The Flintshire-headquartered housebuilder has now secured consent from the local authority to convert the Grade II-listed Edwardian building, which features in Netflix’s hit series Sex Education.

The building, as well as its lodge and further property within the site, will be restored and converted into 49 homes.

They will sit alongside 170 new properties ranging from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom family houses. The historic gate piers will also be retained.

Preparatory demolition works for the first phase at the site – named Parc y Coleg in a nod to its educational heritage – had already started via a separate consent.

Construction works are expected to start shortly and the first homes will be available for sale early next year.

Jane Carpenter, planning director for Redrow South Wales, said: “We have worked closely with Newport City Council to plan the development of Parc y Coleg collaboratively, focused on retaining, protecting and enhancing its heritage and linking with the local community. We’re really looking forward to starting the construction of these new homes.”

The entire scheme will take up to six years to complete.