PLANS to demolish old residential blocks on the former Caerleon university campus have been rejected by Newport council due to “insufficient information.”

Redrow Homes, which bought the site for £6.2 million from University of South Wales (USW), has sought permission to knock down eight residential blocks and two laundry blocks on the site.

The developer wants to build 218-homes on the former campus, with the scheme proposing to retain and convert listed buildings at the site, including the main grade-II listed former campus.

A separate application for this development is currently being considered.

But plans to carry out demolition work from May on the site have been dealt a blow.

A decision notice refusing the application says “insufficient information” about the method of demolition has been provided in the plans.

“The council’s prior approval is required and insufficient information has been provided in relation to the method of demolition having regard to known constraints – residential amenity (dust mitigation and HGV traffic routing), highway safety (traffic routing), on site trees/landscape features (arboricultural method statement and tree protection) and associated ecology, resulting in harm to interests of acknowledged importance,” the decision notice says.

It adds that this goes against Newport’s Local Development Plan.

The main scheme proposes demolition of the modern teaching and residential blocks, as well as the sports hall and other former student facilities, but none of the listed buildings will be affected.

Jane Carpenter, planning director at Redrow South Wales, said: “Instead, significant repair and reinstatement will be undertaken of the historical buildings.

“The proposals aim to protect and enhance the heritage of the Edwardian main building, its lodges and historic gate piers.”

The four listed buildings on the site – including the Edwardian main building – will be converted into 48 homes.

The condition of the buildings on the 33-acre site, used as a campus until 2016, is described as “generally good.”

Previous plans, submitted by USW, for up to 311 homes were rejected by Newport council due to concerns over traffic and air pollution.

While this scheme proposes less homes, Caerleon ward councillor Joan Watkins said there are still “a lot of concerns” among residents about the impact of the development.

“The big issues are about the lack of infrastructure,” she said.

“The impact this development will have on health and GPs and the schools are near enough full up to capacity.

“There is also a very big issue around traffic volumes and air quality.”