THE DEMOLITION of a former church which had been the subject of arson and issues of anti-social behaviour has been completed.

Bettws Free Church and St David’s Community House, on Tone Close in Bettws, have been knocked down as part of plans from Newport City Homes.

The demolition application was submitted due to issues with arson and anti-social behaviour.

Newport City Council granted permission for the buildings to be demolished in October last year.

South Wales Argus: Bettws Free Church and St David’s Community House have been demolished.Bettws Free Church and St David’s Community House have been demolished. (Image: Newsquest)

“The church is in poor structural condition and both buildings lie redundant and have been subject to arson and anti-social behaviour issues,” read the application.

The land is part of an ongoing regeneration project in Bettws.

A Newport City Homes spokesperson said: “We are working closely in consultation with customers in Bettws to improve some of our homes and estates in the area.

“We are in the ‘Discovery Phase’ of our regeneration work in Bettws, getting to know the community and hearing from customers, homeowners, local councillors and businesses.

South Wales Argus: The former Bettws Free Church prior to its demolition.The former Bettws Free Church prior to its demolition. (Image: Google Street View)

“We want to find out what the community think of Bettws, and what could be improved. We hold regular customer steering groups so anyone interested in talking to us in more detail about our work can help shape our approach.

“Some of our initial work has included demolishing the former church and community house at Tone Close, to make way for this regeneration work to improve the area.

“More information can be found on newportcityhomes.com.”

South Wales Argus: St David's Church House prior to demolition.St David's Church House prior to demolition. (Image: Google Street View)

The Bettws regeneration is part of Newport City Homes' larger-scale development across Newport. 

This includes the Ringland Circle development, where construction work is expected to start by the end of this month. 

The project will see the Ringland Shopping Centre relocated to face the Milton Court roundabout, and 158 new homes built on its current site.

And the development of 12 affordable flats and 12 semi-detached affordable homes at Mountbatten Close in Alway is now expected to be completed in the summer.