PLANS to demolish former Torfaen primary school buildings and build supported housing have been given the go ahead by planners.

The decision was made at a Torfaen County Borough Council (CBC) planning committee meet, and discussed the future of the Ysgol Panteg Primary School site, in Griffithstown.

The school was closed this year as part of the Welsh Government 21st Century Schools programme, with pupils moving to a newly-built school at another site.

Melin Homes plan to transform the site into flats providing 24-hour care for nine people to live an independent lifestyle, alongside providing public parking.

There will also be 30 car parking spaces with the site’s main access situated off Hill Street. Four spaces will be off Oxford Street to the East of the site and 12 public car parking spaces will be retained outside the site.

The meeting heard materials for the new buildings will be chosen to match the area and that developers must get a protected species licence signed off by Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales before demolition.

A Torfaen CBC ecologist said the developer’s plans to plant ‘bat boxes’ on buildings were “adequate”and a construction management plan will help minimise disruption to residents, the meeting heard.

On site parking will be managed by the developer, who must follow several conditions before work starts, including over drainage.