So it just looks like the rest of Newport then!
The former Sainsbury's site on Wyndham Road in Newport remains derelict after the supermarket closed six years ago
It's hard to visualise this derelict space, covered in graffiti, weeds and even needles, was once a busy supermarket where thousands of people did their shopping.
It’s now a place most people would avoid.
The former Sainsbury’s on Wyndham Road in Newport closed its doors six years ago. Since then, weeds have grown through the paving slabs and Tarmac of the car park.
Mould has grown over signs on the block bearing fading orange Sainsbury’s logos.
On the main store letters is now broken and missing from signs. One appeared to read: ‘Sains uiy’s.”
Beer cans and other rubbish litter the ground and a syringe was spotted near the entrance.
A man wearing a trapper hat, tracksuit trousers and clutching a bottle of Dr Pepper appeared from behind a corner.
Asked if he lived in the building, he said he was just looking around.
Sitting on some steps at what was once the delivery yard was another man rifling through a rucksack.
The land is owned by developers The Fear Group.
It is planning to pull down the building within the coming months.
The plan is then to construct a 14-storey student residence, some other flats, an 84-bedroom hotel and a shop.
“Various ground works have got to be put in place, which we’ll be doing in collaboration with Natural Resources Wales, which is to do with flood defences,” Leon Fear said.
“It was supposed to happen last year but various things delayed it.”
The Fear Group has spent as much as £300,000 so far on their plans for the site.
“The demolition and various groundworks should be completed by the summer but these things are always slightly subject to change because delays can happen.”
Sainsbury’s closed its doors in 2010 before it moved to a new site on the city’s Albany Street.
“We’ve owned the building for six years now, and we have had vandalism and all sorts of issues there that have been quite well documented,” Mr Fear said.
“You do get issues with derelict sites, they are not easy to secure.”
Mr Fear added: “We’ve got the Brexit situation and no one quite knows how it is going to play out.”
He said residents living near the land had been “very tolerant” of what had become “increasingly an eyesore.”
It has been targeted by flytippers and arsonists have tried to torch the building.
“The right thing to do is to clear the site and we have committed to doing that,” Mr Fear said.
Last year it was reported The Fear Group planned to sell the site because of problems they had there.
Threats had been made to kill their security guard, burn his caravan and kill his dog.
“We are exasperated,” Stephen Fear said at the time.
Since then things are now back on track. The group has been working with Natural Resources Wales.
An NRW spokesman said: “We are building a flood scheme there, the Crindau flood scheme.”
The organisation’s flood risk manager, Tim England, said last year: “Keeping communities safe from flooding is one of our key roles and there is a long history of tidal flooding in Crindau.
“This scheme is important in reducing flood risk for the local residents and businesses, as well as improving local amenities.”
Newport Council confirmed things were now looking up for the site.
“The council understands that the developer is currently appointing contractors to undertake the demolition works and associated flood alleviation works, with completion anticipated later this year,” a spokeswoman said.
“An application for student accommodation was granted for the site early in 2016.”
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