TWO schools in Torfaen could be deemed surplus to council requirements and be offered over to registered social landlords (RSLs) for “affordable” housing once closed.

Abersychan Brynteg Nursery School and the nearby Victoria Primary School have been at the centre of a long-running campaign to prevent their closure next summer.

Along with a parcel of disused land at Blenheim Primary School in Cwmbran, Torfaen council’s cabinet will decide on the proposal next Tuesday.

"The proposal to limit potential purchasers of the three sites discussed in this report to registered social landlords is intended to maximise the number of affordable housing to be constructed on them," stated Victor Mbvundula, the corporate asset manager, in the report.

"Disposal of the sites at market value will provide the council with income to invest in its capital programme."

At the Victoria site, the possible site is roughly one acre in size and is split into two parcels of land intersected by a privately owned lane.

The lane leads to a playing field which is not part of the proposal.

The Brynteg site is at the end of a cul-de-sac and extends to roughly half an acre, while the Blenheim area was deemed surplus by the cabinet in December 2015 and is approximately 1.2 acres.

As part of the proposal, the sites will be offered to the three RSLs which operate in Torfaen - Bron Afon, Melin Homes and Pobl.

However, if none of the three RSLs wish to take up the potential sites for development, it will be “proposed to then dispose of the affected site on the open market”.

"If no RSL operating in Torfaen is capable or willing to acquire any particular site, that site subsequently be offered for sale to the highest bidder on the open market," stated Mr Mbvundula.

Abersychan ward councillors Chris Tew and Giles Davies have put forward an idea for the council to retain the Victoria site for community use, which will be considered by the cabinet at the meeting on November 28.