PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR THE FIRST HOMES AND A NEW PUBLIC PARK AT GLAN LLYN

Two major planning applications have been submitted to Newport City Council to bring forward the first phase of development at Glan Llyn, a project redeveloping the former Llanwern steelworks to the east of Newport, South Wales into a £1 billion sustainable community.

A joint venture agreement between the site’s owner and developer, St. Modwen, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, and house builder, Persimmon has led to the submission of a planning application for 311 homes at Glan Llyn, located off Queensway Meadows near Spytty Road, currently the primary access route to the 600 acre site. Meanwhile, St. Modwen has lodged an application for a £5 million programme of infrastructure works on the brownfield site.

The residential planning application is the first to be submitted on Welsh soil as part of a ground-breaking joint venture which was established between St. Modwen and Persimmon in August 2010. Under the agreement, approximately 2,000 homes – with an end value of £300 million – will be built on seven St. Modwen-owned sites across the UK over the next five years, with a further one at the £1.2 billion Coed Darcy scheme in Neath.

The associated application for infrastructure works will enable the construction of the primary access road, to be known as the Gateway. This will open up access to the south western corner of the site and pave the way towards the development of the first phase of homes and a new 18 acre public park, which will include play areas, open water features and new ecological habitats reflecting the existing environment of the Gwent Levels.

Over the next 20 years, St. Modwen plans to develop Glan Llyn into a thriving new business and residential community providing around 4,000 new homes and 6,000 new jobs locally. The community will include a new local centre with schools, library, police station, supermarket and doctor’s surgery supported by almost 100 acres of play, amenity and sports space as well as parks and lakes.

Nick Alexander, Residential Land Manager for St. Modwen, commented: “Glan Llyn is an exciting regeneration project for Newport and these planning applications mark important milestones for the entire re-development of the site. We would anticipate starting construction on the first phase of homes this summer.

“The Public Park will be the first to be developed in Newport for several years and will be linked to the first phase of homes via pedestrian bridges crossing a watercourse. It will provide a cricket field, games area, play facilities and will offer acres of green space, open woodland, a parkway and two lakes. The park will fit in with our vision to establish Glan Llyn as a sustainable community where people can live and work as well as relax.”

Daniel le Neveu, group development director, Persimmon PLC comments: “This exciting Joint Venture between Persimmon Homes and St Modwen will provide an opportunity to create a vibrant place to live with amenities such as Parkland and lakes, whilst also providing excellent access to the M4 and to Newport.

“We look forward to stating the residential development at Glan Llyn, as part of our Joint Venture arrangements, and taking part in the substantial regeneration of the area. The Planning Application provides for two, three and four bedroom homes to be developed across the site together with ancillary Public Open Space and infrastructure that will set the scene for the wider project.”

St. Modwen acquired the disused site from Corus in 2004, and in March last year a Section 106 Planning Agreement with Newport City Council to help kick-start development plans at the site. Whilst this marks a major milestone in the development of the residential community, St. Modwen is also marketing the 100 acre Celtic Business Park, which has capacity for 1.5 million sq ft of design and build employment space.

Glan Llyn is one of four regeneration schemes currently underway by St. Modwen in South Wales. In Neath Port Talbot, St. Modwen is also re-developing three major former BP sites into new employment, residential and education schemes, including the £1.2bn Coed Darcy development in Neath and proposals to develop the new Bay Campus with Swansea University. Combined, these schemes are set to bring more than 10,000 jobs, 4,000 new homes and through this regeneration more than £3bn of investment to South Wales over the next 25 years.