RESIDENTS living near the Celtic Manor Resort are furious over plans to build "ugly" blocks of apartments in the semi-rural area.
They intend to let the planning committee know how strongly they feel when they meet on Wednesday to consider the application.
Officers are recommending it gets the go-ahead but then the final decision will rest with the Assembly as the scheme flies in the face of the council's own unitary development plan.
The Celtic Manor Resort wants to create six four-storey blocks of 122 apartments on land opposite Belmont Lodge and east of Catsash Road.
A report to the committee says it is needed to meet a demand for high quality residntial accomodation in a resort setting as well as supplying extra accomodation for the hotel during busy times.
But people living nearby are opposed to the plan as are two ward councillors, Gail Giles and Cliff Suller.
"We are absolutely devastated about it," said Helen Willison, whose home is opposite the site.
Describing the proposed blocks as ugly, she added they would be seen by people travelling from Christchurch, Chepstow Road and Caerleon.
Mrs Willison also pointed out the area was classified as an area of outstanding beauty and a special landscape area.
She said while she recognised the resort offered a huge impact financially, schemes should also visually enhance the place where people lived.
A report to the council said the company had submitted a statement justifying the need for the development.
It stated the hotel has 400 bedrooms but can accomodate up to 1,400 conference delegates.
"Clearly there is a deficit of accomodation for the larger conferences and this has affected the applicants' ability to compete for the top five per cent of national conferencing business.
"For example, in September 2007, three golf events had to be declined by the Celtic Manor because the hotel was reserved for use by conference delegates even though the golf courses were not in use."
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