Shropshire Star

Student homes plan for old Newport sorting office

Newport's former Royal Mail sorting office is to be transformed into three student houses.

Published

Newport's former Royal Mail sorting office is to be transformed into three student houses.

Nathan Mahn, of Telford-based JASC Properties Ltd, has submitted a planning application to convert the vacant High Street building into rented properties. One house will be fitted out with 12 bedrooms, one 10 bedrooms and another eight bedrooms. All with have ensuites

Mr Mahn also owns the neighbouring property at 133 High Street, which was converted into student accommodation earlier this year.

Jacqueline Bleach, for the agent, The Ellerdine Partnership, said: "It will be for residential accommodation and targeted towards Harper Adams students. It will be similar to the property next door.

"It will use the structure that's there by adapting it."

The 18,000sq ft site has been empty since Royal Mail moved its operations from the town to Oakengates in January.

It was built as a post office in 1959 but then continued to be used as a sorting office once the post office had moved to another site several years ago.

Each of the three houses will have its own shared kitchen/living room and every bedroom will have en suite shower facilities.

There will also be 23 parking spaces at the back.

The application says that the building is in 'excellent structural condition' and is 'well suited to conversion to domestic use'.

It adds: "The appearance is rather bland and of its time. Whilst the building is just another building in the High Street, we think that this project offers an opportunity to liven up the facade in a conservative manner that will be in keeping with the Conservation Area."

Newport town councillors had suggested the site as a possible location for a small convenience store.

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