NEWPORT Council is mulling the sale of land to Celtic Manor for the golf resort’s future convention centre, raising £250,000 for the authority.

Officers have drawn up a report seeking approval from a cabinet member for human resources and assets to sell 25 acres of land for the development of the International Convention Centre.

The Celtic Manor Resort is due to host the NATO summit next year, which is expected to attract more than 60 world leaders and thousands of delegates.

However building of the centre is not expected to happen until after the summit is held in Wales next September, with an estimated opening date of 2016.

A council report from officers says much of the land is already leased to the Celtic Manor – including seven acres of former agricultural land and woodland currently used as part of the golf course.

A hotel has been built on part of the land to be sold.

The report says the sale will bring £250,000 into the council, although there would be a loss of £1,825 per annum from two leases that will now cease.

The Celtic Manor approached the council to purchase the freehold title to the land as described earlier this year.

It was announced in November that the Welsh Government will provide match funding for the initial stage of the International Convention Centre project.

The match funding would allow the Celtic Manor, owned by billionaire businessman Sir Terry Matthews, to apply for outline planning consent in 2014.

The convention centre, which will have a capacity for 4,000 delegates, will include a state-of-the-art auditorium, exhibition hall and other facilities.

Cabinet member for Human Resources and Assets Cllr Mark Whitcutt is expected to take a decision on the officers’ report soon.