The next potential chapter in the rollercoaster history of one of Wales' most distinctive buildings, Newport's Drill Hall, has been revealed in a bid to save the historic property from dereliction.

The castle-style building in Newport has stood on-guard on Lower Dock Street in the Stow Hill area since being built in 1867 and is a captivating visual addition to the local area.

The striking three-storey sandstone and bathstone building even includes castle turrets at each corner, ensuring the property has become one of the landmark buildings within the city, achieving a Grade II listing from Cadw in 1999 due it being a 'striking castellated building in a conservation area'.

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According to Newport City Council's Lower Dock Street Conservation Area Appraisal report, in 1904 the Drill Hall became the base for the 4th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers, formerly the 3rd Corps of The Monmouthshire Rifle Volunteers.

During its history the building has gone through a number of uses including a religious base known as the Abundant Life Centre, a charity providing counselling services and a venue for recreation, religious and social amenities for the community. But the property has also suffered a number of traumas during its history including two major fires.

In 2016 the rear of the building was badly damaged and had to be demolished in a fire. The property suffered another fire in 2018 which destroyed a large section of the roof at the front of the building and it was reported at the time that a significant part of the actual structure had collapsed.

The result of both fires is that some of the inside of the property is a burnt out shell with ceilings, floors and walls missing, and rear sections of the building either collapsed or demolished due to the damage, while other sections seem to have survived the worst of the flames.

In 2020 the building went under the hammer with Paul Fosh Auctions and sold for £199,500. It was bought by Newport-Based Harvey Bowes Real Estate who submitted a planning application via Bath-based architects Carter Hughes Davies to Newport County Council to convert the building into 12 flats.

However, this scheme was blocked in January 2023 with the council citing concerns over impact on local amenities and conservation, read more about that here.

However, a revised scheme has been lodged with city planners in September 2023 in a bid to revitalise and refurbish the current shell of the burned out building. The proposal aims to convert, refurbish and extend the property to create a mixed scheme of nine flats and first floor office and gym.

Owner Howard Bowes says he is 'excited' to submit a revised planning application to city planners for this landmark city building. He said: "We have been working tirelessly with Newport City Council planners to find a solution which we believe we have achieved with this latest planning application.

"Planning was previously declined for a proposal that was financially viable and which we believe brought the building back into good condition and useful purpose.

"My team, here in Newport, have been working tirelessly on a revised scheme for the Drill Hall which has cost many thousands of pounds so far and which, we envisage, will cost many more thousands by the time we are able to deliver on our scheme."

The experienced property investor and property finance broker said "We went back to the drawing board to create this exciting new scheme which we're hopeful will meet with approval of Newport city planners as we believe it is compliant with the feedback they gave us on the first round.

"Frankly we cannot wait and are excited to get the green light to make a start on restoring this wonderful, iconic and historic Drill Hall building and returning it to the prominence it deserves at the heart of the city of Newport."

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