Civic Society opposes flats plan for historic Newport hotel

The Newport Society has opposed plans to convert the hotel.

David Parker, chairman of the Newport Society, formerly Newport and District Civic Society, said: "We have campaigned for many years for housing on the brownfield land in Water Lane.

"To not have any affordable housing in an application for land in the centre of town opposite the safe play area of Victoria Park is simply wrong."

The society has now approached Telford & Wrekin Council to see if it will use its own housing company to build cheaper homes for local families.

Mr Parker added: "We are asking Telford & Wrekin through its company Nuplace Ltd to invest in the scheme and provide affordable homes for local families who are finding it difficult to afford to live in Newport in part due to high rents and high houses prices forced up by the number of student lets in the town."

In a comment, posted on the online planning application, the society says it objects to the lack of affordable housing on a site that it describes as "ideal" for cheaper homes.

It also says it is concerned about limited parking on the site and that in previous discussions with planning officers from the council, understood that lower floors of the building were to be saved for commercial development, which has not been the case.

Plans were submitted in September to turn the historic 19th century hotel into seven apartments.

Town Centre Properties UK will demolish later additions to the Grade II listed hotel in Newport's town centre, with an aim to "be true to the original Victorian structure of the building".

The building has been disused for the past two years, with a number of tenants trying to bring the building back to life.

Each apartment is expected to have its own car parking space, as well as an additional visitor space.

Apartments should come on to the market by late 2017, with prices starting at about £175,000.

The rear of the property, which overlooks Victoria Park, a gated residential estate, will be developed for a mews style housing complex providing a mixture of two and three bedroom houses all with car parking facilities. Prices will be from £165,000.

The hotel, the only one in the town, dates back to 1830 and gained its name from Queen Victoria. The monarch opened the hotel in 1832 and gifted the owners a pair of tortoise shells to commemorate the opening.

A decision will be taken, either by Telford & Wrekin Council officers using delegated powers or by majority vote at the council's planning committee, at a later date.