PLANS for the development of a former Newport school could be submitted by the spring, after a housing association successfully bought the site.

Staff and pupils from the old Durham Road Primary School, moved to the new purpose-built Glan Usk Primary School at the end of last year, almost a decade after the old school building was deemed unfit for purpose.

Housing association, Linc-Cymru confirmed it had been contracted to buy the site in January and the sale has now been completed.

The group already has several projects in the Newport area, includign the regeneration of the Lysaght Institute site in Lliswerry, which will see the creation of 180 affordable homes for rent or sale, funded and developed by Linc-Cymru, a new Morrisons supermarket, and the refurbishment of the iconic Lysaght Institute.

Plans for the proposed £50million regeneration project went on display during two public exhibitions last month, to give members of the public a chance to see the plans in detail.

The group intends to use the institute for community enterprises and develop it as a focal point for the community as a whole.

The housing association already has well-established links with the city through its extraCare schemes and a new state-of-the-art nursing home.

A Linc-Cymru spokesman said plans were currently being drawn up for the Durham Road site in preparation for public consultation before an application is submitted in the Spring.