A 72-bed student hall that has been in front of the council’s planning committee three times has not been given the green light.

Councillors voted against the plans after concerns were raised about the project, at a planning committee meeting on July 22. The scheme first came in front of the planning committee in December 2021 and then in March 2022 – both times it was deferred so more information could be brought forward.

Landowner Steve Chambers was hoping for the green light for the flats that would have been nestled between Ayresome Gardens and Crescent Road. The part-three storey, part four-storey project has been reduced from 75 beds to 72 since December.

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All three of the ward councillors, Cllr Chris Cooke, Cllr Barrie Cooper, and Cllr Alma Hellaoui, were in favour of the proposals. During the meeting, Conservative Cllr David Coupe raised his concern that the entrance would be through Ayresome Gardens, meaning permission would be needed for a footpath. He added: “I think it’s a great development, I just need to be convinced it’s in the right place.”

Mr Chambers said he would be happy to have a condition imposed on the application which would require him to acquire a legal agreement to implement the new footpath before building started. Labour’s Cllr David Branson recognised the developer had worked to make improvements and said he would love to see the building constructed but remained concerned about access. He added: “As it’s presently set out I am worried, this is a huge development accessed by a single carriageway.”

Independent Cllr Joan McTigue agreed with the points raised by Cllr Branson and Cllr Coupe.

However, Labour’s Cllr Cooke spoke out in favour of the development. He said: “I object to almost every HMO and never in my life did I think I would support one but this building marks a change for Newport a change that the university promised but did not deliver on.”

Cllr Cooke also read out a statement on behalf of Cllr Hellaoui, who is also a Labour member. She said: “It is extremely important that we recognise how this part of Newport ward should be improved for our local community, as this area has been an absolute disgrace over recent years and an eyesore for all who pass – a dumping ground for all types of debris.

“And now, here we are, we have this excellent planning proposal which would massively improve the land, the environment and everything around the area.”

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Cllr Barrie Cooper also spoke out in support of the plans and said that people would feel safer using the paths in the area at night if this new building was constructed.

There is already planning permission in place for a 72-bed student accommodation building with a height of 2.5 storeys, however, Mr Chambers previously said this was no longer cost-effective.

At Friday’s meeting Mr Chambers said, on the advice of the committee, he had redesigned the parking spaces, provided 57 cycle parking spaces, increased the size of the bins, and implemented a system where students will have to book a slot for the car park. He added he had collected letters of support from every single property that backs onto the building.

However, that wasn’t enough to sway councillors away from the officers’ advice to refuse the application. Six of the councillors voted against the plans and only Cllr Julia Rostron was in favour.

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