PLANS to open new accommodation for young adults in central Newport have been warmly welcomed by councillors.
Members of the city council’s planning committee unanimously approved a proposal, on Wednesday, to redevelop a property in Stow Hill into five studio apartments.
The “reconfiguration” of the building will also include communal facilities and will provide housing to over-18s “leaving foster care or residential care homes and in need of accommodation”.
Councillors were supportive of the plans and, in light of housing pressures in the city, said they hoped the scheme would lead to similar projects in future.
Housing association United Welsh will lead the redevelopment, and will manage the finished property.
The new apartments will “provide self-contained but supported accommodation to develop skills required for independent living”, according to a council report.
While some traffic and parking concerns were raised during the committee meeting, members heard the project was considered acceptable within planning rules.
Cllr John Reynolds said the scheme “is to be welcomed” and “looks like a positive development” for the area.
He also noted that earlier in 2024, Newport City Council had adopted new standards for supporting people currently or previously in care.
The council now treats an experience of care as a protected characteristic, and has a duty to protect citizens from discrimination on those grounds.
Committee member Malcolm Linton told the meeting he thought the new Stow Hill apartments were “an excellent idea” because there is a “lack of housing for young people”.
“It’s a welcome development and I think we should have more of these for youngsters,” added Cllr Linton.
Fellow committee member Will Routley noted the council had a “responsibility to make sure our children, when they leave home… get the best accommodation for a start in life”.
