PLANS to build 25 apartments on the site of a historic former hotel in Newport have been given the green light.

Affordable homes will replace the overgrown and vacant area which once housed The King in Somerton Road, Lliswerry.

It is hoped that the development will alleviate growing housing need in the area, with 10 one-bed flats and 15 two-bed flats proposed.

Newport City Council's planning committee heard on Wednesday that there were 1,356 outstanding applications for housing in the Lliswerry ward, with a further 188 people waiting for wheelchair-friendly accommodation.

Ground floor units will be built for those with mobility requirements, with other apartments spread across two buildings separated by a communal outdoor area.

The blocks will be built to a maximum height of three storeys, with certain parts of the building dropping in height to preserve visual amenity for neighbouring properties.

The site would also include up to 25 parking spaces but planning officer Joanne Davidson said: "Overspilled parking will likely occur on neighbouring streets."

Labour Cllr Roger Jeavons, speaking as ward member, asked the committee to consider the impact of increased parking on Kitty Hawk Drive, which the meeting heard was rarely used for parking, and the Reene Cottages directly behind Somerton Road.

"I have serious concerns about emergency vehicles or our own refuse vehicles accessing that point," he said.

Rogerstone Cllr Yvonne Forsey added: "The road [on Kitty Hawk Drive] doesn’t really look wide enough to take parking.

"We’d just be encouraging half on the pavement half on the road parking, which is not a good practice."

Cllr Forsey went on to voice reservations about the scheme in general, describing it as "too intense".

“Just because something was there that was quite imposing [The King hotel] it doesn’t mean that it’s okay to put something back which is imposing from my point of view," said Cllr Forsey.

The King, which was also known as the King of Prussia, was once used as the headquarters of Newport County during its period of "exile".

The club had also used the pub for changing rooms when it played at its former home ground Somerton Park.

The building closed in 2012 and was later demolished.

Proposals to build a 60-bed nursing home on the brownfield site were submitted and approved by Newport City Council in 2013, but such plans have never come forward.

Cllr John Richards, planning committee chair and Lliswerry ward member, said on Wednesday: "This is a historic site that’s been an eyesore for the people of Lliswerry for decades.

"These 25 units will go some short way in addressing housing need in Lliswerry and Newport."