Planning consent has been granted for £60m regeneration project featuring more than 600 student bedrooms on Newport’s riverfront.

An outline application was submitted earlier this year by design and planning consultancy Nash Partnership on behalf of Fear Group.

It was granted planning approval at a meeting of Newport City Council’s planning committee yesterday (19 November).

Despite concerns over the student accommodation element, the council said there was “no reason to think the use was unsuitable”.

The development, on land acquired by the developer in 2010 and formerly occupied by a Sainsbury’s supermarket, comprises seven multi-storey blocks.

These would feature a 601-bedroom student village, 144 homes, and an 84 bedroom four-star hotel as well as a small supermarket, cafe and health precinct.

Provision has been included for 307 parking spaces across the development, including 152 allocated to the market flats, 60 for the student accommodation and 61 for the hotel.

Fear Group has previously been named as the University of South Wales’ preferred partner for the provision of the new city centre student accommodation by the autumn of 2017.

Fear Group founder Stephen Fear said: “We are working closely with The University of South Wales (USW) so that the university can continue to grow and develop new courses appropriate to the modern digital age.

“Only by providing the bespoke top end accommodation expected by overseas students, who financially contribute to the British economy, can any university hope to expand and succeed, our scheme will hopefully contribute to USW in their long term aims.”

Mel Clinton, director of planning and economic regeneration at Nash Partnership, added: “Starting with a local plan allocation for 140 homes and considering how the site can make its fullest contribution to Newport’s future, the project demonstrates the role of density, tall buildings and public realm in achieving a high quality mixed-use riverside environment.

“A positive and extensive process of pre-application engagement with the city council and other stakeholders has also been vital in securing planning permission on this key site.”

The approval is subject to conditions including the signing of a section 106 order that will ensure funding for transport and education, a 35 per cent affordable housing allocation and 35 homes for senior living (over 60s).

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