PLANS for an affordable housing scheme in a large side garden in Newport have been approved by city councillors.

The five two-bedroom homes will be built on land off Cardiff Road, which is near to the railway bridge by the Lidl building site.

Planning permission for three homes was approved in November, before the applicant increased the number.

The application was brought before Newport council’s planning committee on Wednesday after residents raised concerns with ward councillors over issues including potential ‘overdevelopment’ of the site.

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Cllr James Clarke raised questions over an assessment in the application which did not include noise from trains.

The meeting heard that a freight train runs around once per hour, but a passenger train does not operate.

Planners said the issue had not been raised during consideration of the previous application for three homes which was approved.

Cllr John Richards said affordable housing is “desperately needed”.

“There is an urgency for this type of development,” he said.

Each home will have a small front garden, with an enclosed area for bin storage and a footpath to the front door from a parking court.

The homes will also have a back garden, with a shed for secure cycle storage.

A new access to the parking court – which will have two spaces per home – is proposed off Gaer Vale to serve the development.