A NEW chemical plant which will secure hundreds of jobs in the south of Newport has been granted planning permission.

Newport council planning committee has given the go ahead for Eastman to build its new multi-million pound plant at the former Solutia site in Lliswerry, south of Newport.

The Argus revealed in April that the firm was awarded a £4.1 million grant from the Welsh Government following a potential threat to move most of the 250 jobs there overseas.

The planning committee held a meeting earlier this week so the company can hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the site with its American CEO Jim Rogers on Monday.

Construction is to start imminently, but the firm still needs to get an environmental permit from Natural Resources Wales before it can operate.

Eastman, which took over Solutia last year, expects to finish construction in 2014.

The plant, which will make heat transfer fluids, will create 17 jobs and safeguard 216.

The proposed extension will cover an area of 2.47 acres that extends into rural land.

Newport council’s ecology officer considered the proposal acceptable if work is done to mitigate the effect on reptiles and amphibians and other conditions are met.

Stephen Hampson, site manager and UK managing director, told the committee it was a “great success” for Newport that the company had chosen the investment.

Conservative councillor Richard White, for Marshfield, said: “We’ve got to welcome this development.”