Welsh city backs EUR 1.5 bn regeneration scheme

The planning committee of Newport city council has decided to grant outline planning consent for a EUR 1.5 bn regeneration of a 242-hectare former steelworks site at Llanwern. Under the proposals put forward by regeneration specialist St Modwen Properties the land in the third largest Welsh city will be transformed with a sustainable, mixed-use development, comprising housing, office and industrial space, public open space and a range of community facilities.

Redevelopment of this site, which was formerly part of a Corus steelworks facility, is expected to take 20 years to complete. It will include 4,000 new homes, about 140,000 m² of office, factory and warehouse space. The initial phase of the infrastructure works are scheduled to commence later this year, with the first dwellings and employment buildings being developed next year.

Facilities being provided by St Modwen for the community will include two new schools, lakes and other open spaces and a park and ride facility to serve a new railway station. Construction of the scheme and onsite employment space will generate approximately 6,000 new jobs, nearly as many as the steelworks in its heyday, St Modwen said.