TWELVE empty houses in Newport could become homes again thanks to a large cash contribution from a developer planning to build flats on the site of a derelict pub.

Liddell and Associates were given approval earlier this year to pull down the former King Hotel in Somerton Road.

One of the conditions was that six of the 42 flats due to be constructed on the land were "affordable".

But it was revealed to the planning committee at their latest meeting that the flats did not meet Assembly quality standards because they were not big enough.

Instead, it was agreed to ask for £466,500 towards housing in the city.

It appears this would be a better deal for the council as it could be used to make 12 low cost homes available for residents.

Planning officer Mark Hand said the money would be used to return empty properties in the area into a habitable state and used as affordable housing.

He added there were a number of properties in the Lliswerry ward which were already earmarked for this kind of project.

Mr Hand explained the flats were quite a reasonable size but the Assembly standards were generous.

Cllr David Hando said he very much welcomed the change which would help tackle the problem of derelict empty homes.

Cllr David Attwell pointed out that sometimes such properties were older and more suited to families.

Newport council adopted the empty homes strategy to try and deal with the problem of a large number of privately-owned properties in the city which are left vacant and fall into disrepair.