Newport City Council has put forward its Local Development Plan proposal for a pattern of city development between 2011 and 2026. This aims to meet the city’s needs for homes, jobs, education and recreation in a sustainable way.
At this stage the council is not preparing a detailed plan, but is seeking to set the direction for how Newport will develop. This proposal is currently open for consultation, and once the council has reviewed the responses a full draft plan will be produced later this year.
Key features of the proposal include regeneration of previously developed brownfield sites in the city – including the Old Town Dock, Crindau and the riverfront area next to Rodney Parade.
Newport has the only statutory Green Belt in Wales, which is situated west of Marshfield, and the proposal suggests making this bigger.
Housing will also be addressed by the Local Development Plan. Over the next 15 years, up until 2026, an average of 640 dwellings is expected to be needed each year. The council has proposed a brownfield strategy that should be able to meet this need without building on countryside.
Cabinet member for economic development and regeneration Councillor Ed Townsend said: “We have already had a lot of useful feedback from the public and this has helped to shape the vision of what sort of place Newport should be. Newport has a great future and the strategy we are now consulting on seeks to make the best of the opportunities we have.”
To find out more information, or to fill in an online comment form visit www.newport.gov.uk/planningpolicy The strategy can also be viewed at your local library. Responses should be sent to the council by 4pm on Friday 5 March.
