THE CHALLENGE
This 52 acre site was owned by Network Rail and historically used as railway sidings in the first half of the 20th century when the adjacent Newport Docks was a major export point for coal. In more recent years, the site was utilised as a storage facility for ballast stone used on the railway lines.
Initially, Network Rail promoted the site for residential development, but by 2009 had reached a stalemate with the Local Authority and launched an appeal for non-determination of their planning application. Redrow purchased the site in 2010 and, using its substantial expertise, fought and won the appeal in spring 2011 following a review by the Welsh Government.
THE SOLUTION
Redrow immediately undertook significant remediation works, clearing the site of scrub vegetation and then carrying out the translocation of protected invertebrate species to a suitable alternative habitat.
The land itself had to be substantially remediated and the ground stabilized by dynamic compaction. Significant infrastructure was put in place including a new bridge over the main railway, traffic signals on Cardiff Road, a sustainable urban drainage system (S.U.D.S) and almost 2km of offsite foul drainage all within a 12 month period.
The Redrow scheme currently under construction consists of 575 homes, ranging from apartments to 4 bedroom detached houses, with generous play and amenity spaces, and a tree lined boulevard through the heart of the development. Due to the cost of remediating the site, Redrow also negotiated a reduction in the number of affordable housing to 6%.
RESULTS ACHIEVED
In just 12 months Redrow took this derelict site and created it into the biggest show village in the area. To date, Redrow has sold 86 homes achieving a premium sales figure of 10% over and above other similar local developments. 56 occupations have already taken place and the development is already an established living environment which gives credit to the investment Redrow has made in terms of landscaping and open space.
Redrow has committed to circa £2.7m in contributions towards education, social housing, leisure and transport, and the injection into the local economy. The creation of jobs and community living has been much valued.
Carl Sargent, Welsh Housing Minister, chose Mon Bank as the venue from which to launch the first ever Help to Buy Wales in January of this year.
The development is due to complete in 2019.
