Homes for homeless people in Newport are yet to receive approval from the city council six months after they were moved onto the site and days before tenants move in. The 12 modular homes at Newport’s Hill Street car park were rejected by the council’s planning committee in December, but Linc Cymru moved the structures onto the site anyway in February with the protection of legislation set out by the Welsh Government that housing associations could effectively bypass usual planning processes to urgently house homeless people during the pandemic.
That process is due to expire by February - 12 months after work started on the site, and so Linc Cymru urgently requires approval from the council to ensure the homes will not be removed. Tenants will begin moving into the homes in August regardless of approval from the council. A Newport council spokesman said if approval is not granted the council would have no choice but to order the removal of the structures.
Andrew Beale, Linc Cymru Project Manager, said since the plans were rejected by five votes to four in December the housing association has worked on developing the scheme. “Various design changes have been made to visibly improve the scheme, meet council officer requirements and provide an enhanced environment for all people living there and nearby.”
