A GROUND-BREAKING scheme for nearly 850 new homes in a high-quality and sustainable new development on the outskirts of Newport has been approved by the IW Council.
The authority’s planning committee last night (Tuesday) gave conditional approval for 846 homes, and a network of roads, public footpaths and cycleways at Pan.
The scheme by the council in partnership with Spectrum Housing also includes a country park, public open space, a biomass energy plant to provide heating and hot water to the development and also a visitors’ centre.
Four developers — Barratt David Wilson Southampton, Linden Homes Southern, Leadbitter, and a consortium of Rok and Tomicca — have been short-listed to build the 58-acre scheme off St George’s Way by the IW Council, Western Challenge Housing Association and Pan Neighbourhood Partnership.
The selected developer for the council-owned site will be announced in March 2010.
The development is seen as a major part of the council’s aim to provide new homes – 254 of which will be designated as affordable.
All homes will be built to meet the requirements of Code Level Four of the Code for Sustainable Homes, making Pan one of the most sustainable developments of its type in the UK.
News the application had been passed by the council’s planning committee was welcomed by Cllr Dawn Cousins, cabinet member responsible for housing.
"The Pan Project is important in so many respects. Not only will it make a significant contribution to our housing and homelessness targets it will also make a telling contribution to our Eco Island and regeneration aspirations as well as providing most welcome employment opportunities" she said.
"There is much work to be done but this planning approval represents a giant step forward for this groundbreaking scheme that is of great importance not just to Newport to the wider community as well."