Residents remained unconvinced at the unveiling on the latest outline planning application for the development of the old Queen’s Hill school site.

The site already had outline planning permission for 92 houses granted in 2014. Now a new outline planning application has emerged boasting 96 houses and a new entrance point located on Fields Road.

The new plans will also see St Mary’s RC Primary School benefit from a gift of land, upon which there are plans to build a new play area, canteen and pick up/drop off point.

Residual Lands Ltd, who have submitted a joint outline planning application with Newport City Council, were present at a public consultation event held today (Friday, April 13) along with representatives from Powell Dobson Architects and WPM Planning and Development, to present plans to concerned residents.

The event, held at Locke Street community Centre just off Queen’s Hill, drew in a crowd of worried locals who voiced their doubts over the practicalities of the plans.

Susan Thomas, 72, of Queens Close, said: “What concerns me is the traffic this will generate. Combined with the office space down at the old post sorting site and the school peak times it’s just going to make a bad situation worse.”

If this second outline planning permission for the site is granted, Residual Lands and Newport City Council will aim to sell the site to a property developer, explained Nigel Phillips, who represented Residual Lands at the event.

“I think most people are generally not in favour, which is a shame," he said.

"It’s filling a need for housing in Newport and it’s a good brown field site, well located with a lot going for it.

"Newport City Homes will have 14 affordable houses on the site, which is low but is offset by the gift to the school. "And I think that the traffic provision in these plans is much better than the last one.”

Conservative Cllr Matthew Evans, who represents Allt-yr-yn, commented: “It’s disappointing that we’re just being shown another outline application. This doesn’t mean anything as it could all change once a full planning application is submitted.

“You can see from the turn out how important this issues is to the people I represent, and I will be guided by them to represent their views.

Residents have until April 17 to have their say on the plans, and can do so by visiting www.wpmplanninganddevelopment.co.uk or by emailing info@wpmplanninganddevelopment.co.uk.