ONLY two properties are left to buy in the iconic Newport’s old art college, according to the agents behind their sale.

Some 66 apartments were put on the market at the former art college back in June 2012 after a long awaited refurbishment. The news is a big turnaround for the once troubled Clarence Place building which fell into a state of disrepair in the 1990s, despite its grade II listed status.

Plans had originally emerged in 2003 to transform the building into 63 flats, but the art college’s previous owners faced financial troubles and the building was taken on by receivers under whom the redevelopment was completed. Lisa Howells from Savills said the building has proven “extremely popular”, attracting old students, young professionals, downsizers, and a number of investors looking to capitalise on a rising demand for rental property. She said: “The Old Arts College is bursting with history and character, and each of the apartments have been sympathetically designed to reflect this.”

The last two properties are priced between £115,000 for a ground floor two-bed flat and £125,000 for a three-bed first floor flat.

The Argus reported in 2012 that the 66 homes were originally priced to go from £69,995 to £115,000.

Listed building restrictions meant the developers needed to keep its communal areas as they were originally.

Green tiles that lined the central hallway had to be handcrafted, while the terrazzo stone flooring was restored by a specialist.

The green copper dome at the top of the college was converted into a wide circular room for one of the apartments.

The Newport Technical Institute was officially opened at the Clarence Place building in 1910.