Newport regeneration boss fears development plans will devastate town

The chairman of Newport's regeneration partnership today criticised proposals for a massive new development in the town which he fears will "decimate" its high street.

David Parker, chairman of Newport Regeneration, has responded to plans which could see a 50,000sq ft supermarket, petrol station, business park, shops and hundreds of homes being built in the market town.

Outline plans were submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council by Indigo Planning in July for a 50,000 ft food store, cafe, and parking in Audley Avenue in Newport.

A second application by the same developers is asking for a wildlife and allotments area on land adjacent to the supermarket.

Separate proposals have also been put to the public by Telford & Wrekin Council, Davidsons Development and St Modwen for a food superstore, business park, petrol station and 400 homes. A third proposal has also been put forward to build about 300 homes at the back of Moorfield School in Newport.

Mr Parker said: "It will mean the absolute decimation of the town centre and a new village created on the perimeter of Newport.

"The decimation comes from the supermarket. The average person on the street is not only against the superstore, but against the massive housing proposals," he added.

"At the current level, there will be 20 years supply of housing cramped into a very short timescale of three to five years.

"That is a 25 per cent increase in the number of houses. It's totally unreasonable. It will change the whole nature and feeling of our market town.

"We are unanimous in fighting this."

Yesterday Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said he was meeting Telford & Wrekin Council Leader Kuldip Sahota to discuss the plans.

Mr Pritchard said the proposals were "disproportionate, unsustainable, and smack of being rushed".

Following the meeting, Councillor Sahota said: "The council's head of planning Michael Barker and myself met with Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard to discuss proposed and forthcoming developments in Newport.

"It was very constructive, open and positive meeting at which we outlined the current situation in terms of planning applications submitted and other anticipated applications.

"We will continue to listen to all the views of stakeholders, interested parties and members of the public as the consultation process moves forward."