The Newport Council Planning Committee met to consider planning applications, and to note recent appeal decisions. The committee was scheduled to discuss a schedule of planning applications, and a report on appeal decisions. Among the planning applications to be discussed was a proposal for a battery energy storage system at Uskmouth Power Station.

Planning Applications

The Planning Committee was scheduled to consider a Development Management Planning Application Schedule which included the following applications:

Land South Of 9 Jessop Close, Rogerstone

An application concerning land south of 9 Jessop Close was presented to the committee at the request of Councillor Reeks, due to concerns about poor access, environmental impact, an out of date survey, parking and inadequate street lighting. The application sought permission for the:

• Removal of concrete foundation structures and associated detached garages and access
• Construction of two detached residential dwellings and associated access

The Planning and Development Manager recommended that the application be granted with conditions, subject to a Section 106 agreement¹ with delegated powers and discretion to refuse in the event that the agreement was not signed within three months of the council's resolution to grant planning permission.

The report noted that previous planning applications seeking consent for three and four dwellings had been refused and dismissed at appeal due to the scale and layout of the dwellings. It also noted that outline planning consent was granted for the construction of two dwellings on 31 March 2022, and extended in May 2025. The reason for the submission of a full planning application was that two detached garages were also proposed.

The Principal Heritage Officer noted that the proposed infill development would continue a line of already established two-storey properties, with the new constructed to the same approximate overall height. The officer also noted that the trees along the boundary form an important, positive contributor towards the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Conservation Area, being key to its green and enclosed character, and acting as a buffer against surrounding modern development.

The Ecology Officer advised that the implementation of a series of precautionary mitigation measures, and biodiversity enhancement measures, should be secured by planning condition. The officer also advised that the proposal to attach external bat/bird boxes should be amended to internal or integrated roost / nest boxes.

The Highways Officer raised no objection subject to conditions.

Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water requested that if planning consent was granted, conditions and advisory notes were included to ensure no detriment to existing residents or the environment, or to Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water's assets.

7 objections were received from neighbours, and summarised as:

• Materials out of context with other properties
• No details of working hours, length of works, noise levels, dust suppression etc
• Disruption to those that work from home
• Parking
• Increase in traffic
• Impact on privacy of neighbouring properties
• Garages overbearing
• Streetlight in current position needs to remain
• Detrimental impact on trees and surrounding area
• The utility company should of already removed the concrete structures
• The land should be offered to existing residents
• Rogerstone is already overdeveloped
• Existing concrete structures serve as a critical stabilising function concern regarding stability of neighbouring dwellings
• Altering water drainage and groundwater flow, increasing the risk of damp and flooding.
• Damage to neighbouring properties
• Large TPO trees on the banks of the canal
• Restricted access
• Bridge on Cwm Lane would not withstand heavy vehicles
• If approved, the proposal would contradict Newport Councils wellbeing objective 2.
• Site survey needs to be revised as it appears the same as the 2011 report.
• No environmental impact assessment or method statement on how the concrete currently on the site is to be removed – consequential impacts of noise, dust and structural integrity of surrounding houses.

The report noted that the proposed development would be required to help deliver more sustainable communities by providing, or making contributions to, local and regional infrastructure in proportion to its scale and the sustainability of the location, and that Section 106 planning obligations were required to mitigate the impact of the development. The applicant agreed to make a commuted sum payment of £4,128 for affordable housing, plus administration and legal fees.

Land East Of Lyte Buildings Road, C Wern Industrial Estate

An application concerning land east of Lyte Buildings Road on the C Wern Industrial Estate was presented to the committee as it constituted major development. The application sought permission for the change of use to a B8² self-storage facility and the siting of 144 storage containers.

The Planning and Development Manager recommended that the application be granted with conditions.

The proposed site arrangement was for containers arranged length ways along the site perimeter with an additional central bank and a smaller bank on the southern boundary of the site blocking the existing secondary access point. A soft landscaping scheme and associated management plan was proposed, consisting of the planting of two trees on the south/western section of the plot, native hedgerow planting on the southern and eastern boundaries, a wildflower planting area and sedum roofs to the majority of the containers.

Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water noted that the proposed development was crossed by a trunk/distribution watermain, and recommended a condition regarding no surface water entering the public sewerage system directly or indirectly.

The Landscape Officer raised no objection, noting that a 'Detailed Soft Landscape Proposals' and a 'Landscape Specification and Management Plan' had been submitted.

The Highways Officer requested confirmation of how the access was to be closed off, and proposals to set the gates back into the site, including details of the available visibility splays[^4], including 2mx 2m at 600mm height for pedestrians. The officer also requested an assessment of a 12m rigid vehicle. Subject to conditions, the Highways Officer did not raise any objections.

No representations were received in response to the publicity exercise.

Land At Uskmouth Power Station, West Nash Road, Nash

An application concerning land at Uskmouth Power Station on West Nash Road in Nash was presented to the committee as it constituted major development. The application sought permission for the:

REMOVAL OF STORED PULVERISED FUEL ASH (PFA) AND THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) WITH ALL ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENGINEERING AND ASSOCIATED UTILITIES CONNECTIONS

The Planning and Development Manager recommended that the application be granted with conditions, with delegated authority to the Head of Economic Development and Regeneration to issue a decision if Natural Resources Wales approved the Habitats Regulation Assessment/Appropriate Assessment.

The application site was part of the larger power station site, within the area of the Uskmouth B station, on land that stretched to the south of the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine CCGT power station. Most of the application site comprised land approved for PFA storage in 2006. The PFA was to be removed via road over a 15 month period to another location in the UK to be used in the manufacture of construction products, with 30 HGV movements per day anticipated. The construction phase was anticipated to take place over a 24 month period, and the operational lifetime of the development was expected to be 40 years.

The Health and Safety Executive stated that the proposed development site did not currently lie within the consultation distance of a major hazard site or major accident hazard pipeline, and therefore they did not need to be consulted on any developments on this site.

Heneb recommended that a condition requiring the applicant to submit a detailed written scheme of investigation for a programme of archaeological work to protect the archaeological resource should be attached to any consent granted.

Wales and West Utilities identified apparatus in the area, including the location of a high pressure pipeline outside the site.

National Grid stated that the area had been found to be within the High Risk zone from National Grid Electricity Transmission plc's apparatus.

Welsh Water stated that the proposed development was crossed by a trunk/distribution watermain, and that the developer must consult Dwr Cymru Welsh Water before any development commenced on site.

The Senior Fire Prevention Officer stated that fires involving large commercial solar arrays, battery energy storage facilities, and electric vehicle parking/charging facilities could be very difficult to extinguish, and that the developer of such sites should ensure they have suitable safety measures to contain and restrict the spread of fire.

Natural Resources Wales advised that conditions regarding land contamination and controlled waters, flood risk, ornithology, designated sites and protected species should be attached to any planning permission granted.

The Highways Officer requested an assessment /rationale to demonstrate that due consideration had been given to other modes of transport, and a Construction Environmental Management Plan to manage the impacts of the PFA removal and the construction period.

The Landscape Officer stated that a detailed planting plan to detail up the Landscape Masterplan would be required, and should highlight any overhead wire constraints to planting over 5m.

The Ecology Officer supported the methodology and conclusions of the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal dated December 2024, but noted that the habitat of the main area of the site was indicated as 'Cultivated/disturbed land, Ephemeral/short perennial' in the Phase 1 Habitat Plan, and that no attempt had been made to assess whether this habitat constituted Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land.

One response from Severn Power was received objecting to the proposals, raising concerns about:

• Risks from a BESS facility in this location
• Fire and explosion risk
• Toxic Chemicals
• Infrastructure at Severn Power Station
• Construction risks associated with the BESS facility
• Operational effect on CCGT power station

Nash Community Council objected to the proposal on the grounds that the removal of the fuel ash from site would involve high volumes of HGV movements throughout the village and have an impact on the residents living on West Nash Road and Nash Road.

Appeal Decisions

The Planning Committee was also scheduled to note the outcome of recent planning appeals, including:

• 24/0948 - 133 Stow Hill, Newport, NP20 4FZ - CHANGE OF USE OF UPPER FLOORS TO A 5 BED HMO WITH ACCESS FROM THE GROUND FLOOR - Appeal Dismissed and Costs application refused
• 25/0165 - Silver Birches, Wentwood Road, Penhow, Newport - Construction of a double garage with study above - Appeal Dismissed
• 24/0524 - Land North Of Rock Cottage, Arcade Road, Penhow, Newport - The proposed development is the conversion of building into residential use to include a small side extension, construction of detached domestic stable block, standalone bat house and associated works including landscaping, formation of a small domestic garden, improvements to access and provision of two parking spaces - Appeal Dismissed