Two prime development sites close to the centre of Monmouth have been sold by the Local Health Trust to niche residential developer, Redcliffe Homes Limited. However, the mystery as to what is going to happen to the Tesco owned site close to the Dixton Road roundabout deepened when The Beacon was told the site had been taken off the market. The Bristol based concern handling the sale confirmed the site was no longer for sale. There has been speculation for some months that Tesco was about to reveal plans for a store in the town, with the rumours even suggesting the superstore giants were about to acquire the site of Monmouth Comprehensive School and provide a new, state of the art school in the Rockfield area. Global property consultants DTZ advised the Local Trust on the sale and recommended that the two sites - the former Monmouth Hospital and the former Dixon Road Clinic - should be marketed both individually and as a pair to maximise the level of interest from major residential developers. Gareth Carter, director at DTZ in Cardiff office, told The Beacon this week "We recognised that by offering both sites to the market at the same time this would attract a wider interest from major developers. "Redcliffe Homes provided a straight forward tender and successfully completed the purchase of both sites shortly thereafter". David Price, Land Director at Redcliffe Homes based in Chipping Sodbury, said he was pleased on his latest acquisition, commenting: "As soon as we were sent details by DTZ we recognised that both sites were terrific opportunities. "It is so hard to find property for development in a historic town like Monmouth and we therefore jumped at the chance and sharpened our pencils to make the best bid". Mr Price continued: "Whilst the properties were bought as a pair our approach to each site will be different. The former Monmouth Hospital building in Hereford Road will be retained even though it is not a listed building and will be converted to individual apartments and land behind will provide three-storey family housing. "On the other site at Dixon Road, which is just around the corner we propose to demolish the old 1960s clinic and replace it with an apartment scheme more in keeping with a style of the surrounding properties". Tom O'Connor, owner of Redcliffe Homes is also enthusiastic about the purchase. "We are a specialist developer of residential accommodation and do not use standard house types like so many of our larger competitors. "We tailor make our schemes to fit in with the local vernacular style making each scheme completely individual and more attractive to the discerning purchaser. "We are confident that both these developments will be a success. An indication of this is the substantial number of enquiries being received even though we have only recently put up our Acquired By sign". David Cummings on behalf of Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce told The Beacon on Tuesday that the sales particulars, now withdrawn, on the sale of the 1.9 acre Tesco site explained that planning permission for a petrol station, fast food restaurant and travel lodge had lapsed in April 2001. The site is now zoned as white land with no specific use and is categorised as C2 by the Environment agency for flood risk. This planning information is in agreement with that held at MCC Planning Office. An Environment Agency Technical Advice Note describes C2 land as suitable only for "Less vulnerable development" . Details on the "less vulnerable development" category lists industrial, employment, commercial and retail development as well as car parks as potential uses. "There are obvious difficulties of access to the site off Dixton Road due to its proximity to the exit from the A40 and we understand that any development would require the land level to be raised across the site by one metre" he said. "The Chamber opposes use of the site for food or non-food retail. The Chamber hopes that the Planning Authorities will take great care not to allow ugly development of the site as this will seriously detract from the historic and natural qualities of Monmouth. "We will continue to monitor any future planning applications submitted for the site". Referring to the Dixton Road Clinic and Old Hospital site, Mr Cummings said: "The Chamber welcomes the news that the fine Arts and Crafts hospital building will be retained in the proposed residential development of that site and the Dixton Road Clinic site. New dwellings created within easy walking distance of the top of town should be a fillip to businesses located there. We would urge the developer to incorporate in the design at least two car parking spaces for each dwelling to avoid creating any additional parking demand in areas which are already fully subscribed.
