PART of a Newport street will be closed off as part of plans for the city's new magistrates' court building.

An order authorising the 'stopping up' of part of Granville Square, Newport, has been made by Welsh ministers under the Town and Country Planning Act, so it can be used as part of the new magistrates' court development in Mission Court.

Newport City Council's planning committee gave unanimous backing to plans for a state-of-the-art courthouse in Pill in October 2009 and initial groundworks are now under way on the site, off Lower Dock Street.

It is expected to be completed by summer 2013. The new building would include four courtrooms over three-storeys, along with holding cells for defendants, a 22-space car park and public spaces for visitors.

Up to 34 new jobs could be created, with some positions filled by transferring staff from other courts.

The area to be stopped up, which is described as "an irregularly shaped area" totalling 72 square metres, is at the south eastern end of George Street and south of the George Street Bridge, and will be used as an external public square for the new court.

Proposals for a new magistrates' court were first mooted in 1987 and the current magistrates' court on Clytha Park Road was declared unfit for purpose more than 11 years ago.

The new courthouse will be a contemporary design that could become a modern landmark for the city with a plate-glass entrance hall opening on to Usk Way.

Currently there are three courtrooms in use in the existing building, with magistrates and district judges also making use of one of the courtrooms in the crown court nearby.

Copies of the order can be viewed at Newport Crown Court, Faulkner Road, during office hours or by visiting www.wales.gov.uk.