New homes coming soon to former Whiteheads steelworks

Partnership housing developer Lovell is set to start on one of Wales’ largest regeneration schemes on the former Whiteheads steelworks.

Contracts have been completed on the brownfield site in Newport for a brand-new £85m mixed tenure development, which will be managed in partnership by Lovell and Tirion with support from the Welsh Government.

The development, called Royal Victoria Court, will be located off Mendalgief Road and will consist of high-quality design, creating a vibrant new place for residents to live.

Consisting of 528 properties, the development will include 220 one and two-bedroom apartments and 308 two, three and four-bedroom homes, with a mix of open market and affordable homes. The affordable properties will include homes for social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.

Lovell will gain access to the site in May 2021 to commence construction works. Completion of the development is expected in March 2025, and the first open market homes will be available for sale in early 2022.

The construction program is expected to create over 850 new jobs, including 40 apprenticeship placements for local people.

James Duffett, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing forward this brand-new development in partnership with Tirion and the Welsh Government, following our successful partnership on The Mill in Cardiff.

“The development will create new jobs, training opportunities and apprenticeships alongside a new community for the people of Newport whilst considerably boosting the local economy as we continue to deal with the backdrop of the pandemic.”

David Ward, CEO of Tirion Group, said: “We are delighted our partnership with the Welsh Government and Lovell will help Tirion Homes to deliver 264 much needed affordable homes for the local community. This major regeneration project will also include a new neighbourhood centre and a Primary School.

“This has been a challenging site to bring forward and great credit goes to the Welsh Government and Lovell who have supported Tirion over a number of years to help realise the vision. We very much look forward to delivering and supporting this important new neighbourhood in Pilgwenlly through our long-term management and community engagement strategy.”

The Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, said: “It is fantastic that Welsh Government has been able to support the regeneration of this brownfield site into a high–quality development. It will not only build a vibrant community, featuring high–quality and affordable homes, but will create hundreds of jobs for local people; providing a real boost for the local area. I look forward to seeing the completed development.”

The former steelworks in Newport started its life in the 1920’s and was closed in 2005 for demolition as part of the city’s ongoing development plans. For almost 100 years, the building employed generations of local families and at its height, more than 2000 people worked there.

Royal Victoria Court is ideally located close to the city centre of Newport with the university, new Friars Walk Development alongside an abundance of pubs, cafes, shops as well as cinemas and theaters. It also remains in close proximity to food superstores and is nearby to The Royal Gwent Hospital.

For further information on Lovell visit www.lovell.co.uk/, and for more details on Tirion visit www.tirionhomes.co.uk.

You can also like Lovell on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lovellhomes and follow Lovell on Instagram at @lovell_homes, and on LinkedIn @LovellPartnershipsLtd.