Plans for a Co-op and two other shops to serve a new neighbourhood of up to 1,200 homes have been approved by Newport council.
The main food store, which is expected to be a Co-op, and two other retail units will be situated at the site of a former petrol station and garage in Tregwilym Road, Rogerstone.
It will serve the new Jubilee Park development which is situated on the site of the former Novelis/Alcan aluminium factory.
The shops will be located next to the development, though not on the site itself, with the proposed position said to offer a “more commercially attractive location.”
Retailers are said to have been put off from the Jubilee Park site due to “its lack of prominence,” believing it does not provide the visibility or accessibility to the wider Rogerstone area.
But there is demand for the Tregwilym Road site, with the Co-op having signed terms to lease one of the planned units subject to planning permission, according to the plans.
Planning officers gave their backing to the scheme ahead of the plans being approved, subject to a section 106 agreement, last week.
“It is recognised that moving this retail element away from the immediate Jubilee Park development is not the most desirable outcome however, given the unsuccessful marketing of the local centre site and the proximity of the application site to the Jubilee Park development, which also has good pedestrian links, it is considered to be a pragmatic solution,” a planning report said.
“The provision of the retail units in the proposed position would not only ensure their economic success but it would also ensure that Jubilee Park has its local centre, in an easily accessible location.”
The scheme is expected to create between 25 and 40 full-time equivalent jobs.
Parking for 25 cars, two accessible spaces and two motorbike spaces will also be included, as well as storage for up to 12 bikes.
