NEWPORT council has ordered developers to pay them a 1.75 million bond to safeguard the promised restoration of a historic landmark.

The controversial plans from Morspan Holdings to convert Pencoed Castle in Llanmartin into offices, and to build 12 houses in the grounds, were given the go-ahead yesterday.

Although welcomed by conservationists, locals feared the project would have a negative impact on them.

But legal agreements mean developers must contribute 73,000 towards local education and 10,000 to leisure facilities in Langstone, meaning residents should reap some benefits.

The developers must also give the council 0.25 acres of the land for affordable housing.

Of the safeguards on this development, the most powerful is the 1.75 million bond planners have demanded.

It will only be returned once promised conservation work on the grade II listed castle, farmhouse and barn is complete.

The castle must also be restored before any of the planned houses are built.

It seems Newport planners have adopted the motto 'once bitten twice shy' after the delays to restoration of the city's Art College.

Having granted permission for the restoration and conversion of the Art College in Clarence Place into flats in April 2006, they have since been forced to watch it fall into ever more serious disrepair.

Chair of the planning committee Councillor Trevor Watkins said: "The bond is designed to protect the building from future decay.

"It is an issue which arose with the Art College after the council had to issue an emergency works notice to encourage the developers to start work."

But he said Morspan Holdings had already done important roof repairs to prevent rain damage and said the planned business lettings would make the restored castle financially sustainable.

Other safety nets written into the legal agreements approved by city planners included strict phasing of the works.

The new development's access road will be built first, then the castle will be restored, then the remaining restoration will be alternated with the construction of new houses.

Councillor Watkins said: "I'll be keeping a very close eye on it."

Castle originally a fortified Tudor manor house
  • The buildings at the site include Pencoed Castle itself, a farmhouse and long barn - all grade II listed.
  • The castle - a fortified Tudor manor house - is thought to have been built by Sir Thomas Morgan on the site of a moated Norman castle.
  • The Morgan family lived at Pencoed until the end of the 17th century when it was taken over by the Gwyns of Llanhowell.
  • In the 19th century it was let to farmers and in 1914 bought by Lord Rhondda who started restoration work. This work stopped in 1918.
  • In recent years the castle was unoccupied and more recently was used as a chicken shed and a shelter for cattle and sheep.