Work starts on Newport site for 285 homes
Diggers have moved on to green fields on the edge of Newport as work gets under way on an estate of more than 250 houses – nearly two years after planners gave their blessing.
Telford & Wrekin Council approved plans for 285 homes off Wellington Road in August 2012, despite 500 objections.
This week work finally began on the project, one of the biggest in the town for a generation.
More than 1,000 houses have been given the go-ahead in Newport, including 215 off Audley Avenue, 350 in Station Road and 85 in Edgmond Road.
The Wellington Road development is being built by Persimmon Homes West Midlands and will be known as Meadow Grove.
Dave Gittus, of Wellington Road, was one of those who opposed the scheme.
He said he still feared the new homes and extra cars would cause chaos on Wellington Road, one of the main routes in and out of town.
"It's bad enough as it is," he said, "but we'll have an extra 300 people travelling south each day to work between 7.30am and 9am."
Meadow Grove will be built in four phases, starting with 55 homes, 17 of which will be affordable.
The work will include a games area next to Moorfield Primary School and a children's play area.
Tim Brickley, a director of Persimmon Homes West Midlands, said:
"We intend to start by building the marketing suite and show home over the next few weeks.
"It is hoped that the marketing suite will be opened towards the end of July, at which point we can release the first properties for sale.
"These will include three and four-bedroom homes."
