In lovely Newport, Wales, where my wife and I (Storm) had an absolutely wonderful time about a decade ago, local residents have a love-hate relationship with a multi-million-pound public-private partnership designed to revitalize a struggling area of the city.
Milton Court Flats in Ringland.
Photo credit: Superpopslive via Wikipedia.
Specifically, they worry that some unhealthy sprawl has been bundled with healthy downtown regeneration.
Newport City Homes (NCH) hopes to transform run down suburb of Ringland with a scheme that has seen more than two years of consultations with residents. NCH says it wants to build homes that will “still look good in 50 years“.
The first phase of the scheme will see Cot Farm redeveloped with 56 new homes. The regeneration project will include the redevelopment of land near the area’s shopping centre and Cot Farm.
It will involve redeveloping the sheltered housing and a former pub.
As part of the proposal, a number of homes will have to be demolished and residents rehoused. The shops will also be demolished.
When local residents were surveyed, some concerns arose. They liked the revitalizing parts of the plan, but worried that it includes sprawl.
The survey revealed “100% in favour of the redevelopment of Ringland shopping centre”, but also exposed concern over the fact that Newport City Homes (NCH) wants to build more homes to “make more money by adding to their housing stock.”
“Redevelop what we have already, but don’t hold Ringland residents to ransom by saying they must give away green space as a result,” one wise respondent said.
All renderings courtesy of Asbri.