PLANS to build houses on a section of the Jubilee Park site earmarked for a “local centre”, have been recommended for approval.

As part of the original, 1,200 home Jubilee Park scheme in the Rogerstone area of the city, two sections of land were selected as sites for a convenience store or supermarket, and a pub or medical facility.

However, in the years that have followed, neither developers Walters, or agents Savills, have been able to find viable tenants for either plot of land.

And, while much of the project has now been completed – including hundreds of homes, and Jubilee Park Primary School, the two sections of land have remained empty.

Now, fresh plans have been submitted, which would see these sites used for housing instead.

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Documents show that between 40 and 50 houses could be built here.

This would comprise of mixture of property types – from one bedroom apartments, to two, three, and four bedroom detached, semi-detached, and terraced houses.

According to the plans, the layout is flexible in design, and could be amended to offer more of a certain property type, all according to demand in the Rogerstone area.

Of these, 10 per cent would be required to be earmarked as affordable housing.

The plans are set to go before Newport City Council’s planning committee tomorrow (Wednesday, November 3), where a decision is set to be made.

South Wales Argus: The Jubilee Park site once demolition was completed, nearly a decade agoThe Jubilee Park site once demolition was completed, nearly a decade ago

But, ahead of the meeting, planning officers have recommended that it be approved – subject to a Section 106 agreement being drawn up.

Officers also noted that the original Jubilee Park scheme provided the Rogerstone/Bassaleg area with additional school capacity and leisure facilities.

As a result, the S106 requirements for this development are that 10 per cent of the homes are designated as affordable housing, and a local facility is provided for a district nurse.

Site owners Walters are said to have offered the nearby Drill Hall community facility for the health board to use in this manner.

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How did we get here?

Work to transform this area of Rogerstone has taken many years.

Originally home to the Novelis/Alcan factory, this closed in April 2009, and demolition followed two years later.

This paved the way for the major housing project, which followed.

Permission was granted for 1,200 homes, and associated leisure, retail, and education facilities.

While the education and leisure requirements were fulfilled, developers were unsuccessful in their efforts to find retailers or pub chains interested in the plans.

As a result, the attempts to build additional housing at Jubilee Park have followed.