Robert Price wins site appeal

Robert Price, the Welsh independent builders merchants have won permission to move their branch in Newport to the site of their choice.
Newport city council was strongly criticised by a Welsh Assembly-appointed inspector for failing to heed guidance following a previous appeal by Robert Price.

The builders merchants wanted to move to vacant land, once occupied by a transport depot, in Corporation Road, Newport, following the regeneration of their current site.

Robert Price’s original application was rejected in 2006 but, at an appeal the following year, an independent inspector decided that sufficient attention to the landscaping should overcome any problems with the site. Robert Price then submitted an amended application with new plans increasing the landscaping strip between the river and the new development.

This subsequent application was also thrown out but the Assembly-appointed inspector has now said he could see no reason not to agree with the previous inspector’s decision (to allow the move) which he described as “clear and comprehensive”.

The Inspector said: “Failure to have regard to recent appeal decisions is most unreasonable.”