A HOUSING development in the Old Town Dock regeneration area in Newport has been given the go-ahead by city councillors.

The hybrid application to Newport City Council is to develop land on the south west side of East Dock Road.

Full planning permission has been given to Sennybridge Ltd and the Seren Group for 24 houses, 65 apartments and 288 sq m of space for food and drink outlets, as well as the construction of new roads, footpaths, access, public and private space and landscaping.

An outline application has also been given approval for up to 199 residential units, office space and car parking.

Seven councillors on the planning committee voted in favour of the application, with one voting against.

Councillor Jane Mudd said that anything that can help the housing need in Newport should be welcomed to the city but councillor Miqdad Al-Nuaimi said he had "serious reservations" about the application.

Cllr Al-Nuaimi said: "With the exception of the curve in the design and the water feature in the roof, there really isn't any difference to what we saw during that unfortunate period [in the 1970s]."

The site is a former dock that was operational from 1842 and used mainly for the exporting of coal.

The dock closed in 1930, the two basins were filled and the site has remained vacant ever since.

To the north and included in part of the application site is a new public park, funded by the former Newport Unlimited to attract potential developers.

As part of the S106 agreement, Sennybridge Ltd has been asked to contribute £249,500 towards equipped play provision at Pill playing fields and £15,000 towards signage and road markings on streets surrounding the development.

A fee of £7,935 to cover the council’s costs of on-going monitoring of the planning obligations will also need to be paid.