Former city school bought by homes developer (From South Wales Argus)

Former city school bought by homes developer

3:20pm Monday 11th January 2010 in News

A FORMER Newport school is set to be given a new lease of life, after housing association Linc-Cymru bought the site.

Staff and pupils from the old Durham Road Primary School, moved to the new purpose-built Glan Usk Primary School last month, almost a decade after the old school building was deemed unfit for purpose.

Linc-Cymru has now confirmed it is buying the site and hopes the deal will be done by the end of the month.

A spokesman said: “We anticipate finalising our proposals in the Spring. We will then consult on our plans with the intention of submitting a planning application.”

The group already has several projects in the Newport area, including the regeneration of the Lysaght Institute site in Lliswerry, which will see the creation of 180 affordable homes for rent or sale, funded and developed by Linc-Cymru, a new Morrisons supermarket, and the refurbishment of the iconic Lysaght Institute.

The group intends to use the institute for community enterprises and develop it as a focal point for the community as a whole.

The housing association already has well-established links with the city through its extraCare schemes and a new state-of-the-art nursing home.

St Julians ward member Cllr Ed Townsend welcomed the news.

He said: "I have met with Linc Cymru and the first thing to say is that they have been very responsible in securing the site, which was one of the things we were worried about. They are a good honourable organisation and I welcome them buying the site."