Minister rejects call for rethink on 215 Newport homes

The St Modwen development on land north of Audley Avenue was passed by council planning bosses last month but campaigners had hoped that the government would call in the application for a second look. But Secretary of State Eric Pickles has said he is happy for the scheme to go ahead.

St Modwen said the scheme would provide 'much-needed family housing and recreational facilities'.

But campaigners claim that the council's core strategy, which suggests 60 new houses a year in Newport until 2016, was being ignored.

David Parker, chairman of the Save Newport Campaign Group, said: "We are disappointed that the number of new houses now far exceeds the core strategy of the local authority. The government now seems to be contradicting its Localism Act.

"We are disappointed but there are still a number of battles in this war that we have having."

The development was the target of hundreds of objections.

Another plan for 285 houses in Wellington Road, Newport, has also been passed and a third scheme for 350 houses in Station Road is expected to go before planning chiefs in the next couple of months.

Tory councillor Eric Carter said residents were being ignored. "I have e-mailed Eric Pickles and Ed Balls expressing my disappointment," he said.

"I was very pleased when the Localism Act came in but the word localism appears to have disappeared.

"It's all about building anything anywhere at the moment."

The minister's decision has been met with frustration on the Save Newport Campaign Group's Facebook page. Rachel Edwards said: "Sadly Newport will never be the same again."

And Ruth Nicholas said: "Full of despair."