PLANS for a new 146-bedroom budget hotel in Langstone by the Celtic Manor Resort have been given the go-ahead.

The planning application for the four-storey building next to the Colda Court Hotel, as well as detached drive-through Starbucks, was approved by Newport City Council’s planning committee this afternoon.

Committee members heard the prestigious resort had put in the plans for the hotel, which will create 71 new jobs, partially to meet demand expected to be created by the new International Convention Centre, which is currently under construction.

Although the application was approved seven votes to two, concerns were raised around the impact on traffic on the nearby Coldra roundabout, which is already often heavily congested, as well as the impact on the environment of the area.

Langstone ward member Cllr William Routley said he had some major misgivings about the plans.

“I am struggling to figure out what sort of benefit this monstrosity will bring us,” he said.

“It will be overbearing to the whole village of Langstone.”

Fellow Langstone ward member Cllr Ray Mogford, said, while he was not as concerned as his party colleague, he was worried about the impact on traffic.

But Labour Stow Hill ward member Cllr Miqdad Al-Nuaimi said, while he was generally against developments which resulted in a loss of green space in the city, on balance he was in favour of the plans.

“If we are going to expand as a city we need to expand our facilities as well,” he said.

“This is to support a major development and as far as I can understand there is cross-party support for that because we really want to have that sort of business.”

He added: “If we turn this down we are saying we don’t want to support developments which are going to bring employment and support the city.”

The development will also include 157 parking spaces, with the hotel expected to have a turnover of £3 million a year and the Starbucks up to £1.5 million.