EIGHTEEN Newport residents could lose their homes if the threat of demolition to their four storey apartment block goes ahead.

Newport City Council issued the building owners Liberty Grove in Lliswerry with a notice for the block's demolition.

Made up of 13 apartments sold and five rented through Charter Housing, the council said the block has breached planning controls.

The notice is in fact also for another three blocks at the development which were never finished.

The council said all four blocks, standing on land near to Portskewett Street, failed to fulfill 12 planning conditions after being granted outline planning permission in 2006.

Newport Council issued a notice to formally require the demolition of the four apartment blocks and the removal of the rubble and debris from the site.

First-time buyer Neil Dubber moved into the apartment block with his wife in June last year.

He said forcing residents to move out would be a huge disturbance to people's lives.

"I think there would be compensation claims if they had to demolish the building, and I do not think they would want it to come to that."

Joe Jackson who bought his apartment last August said: “I’m concerned about the possibility but I’m sure demolition will be a last resort."

The council said it might be possible for a retrospective full planning application to be made so as to keep the four blocks standing.

But its head of planning regeneration and strategic housing, Andy Evans, said action will need to be taken if the situation cannot be resolved.

Fairlake Homes own the occupied block and the other three uncompleted blocks are owned by Tribute Homes.

Fairlake's assistant director, Neil Barber, said that after the company’s apartments had been completed the developer went into administration and so the rest of the project was not completed.

He said as soon as the company became aware of the council were threatening demolition, the company began to work with the council to make sure the residents living in Fairlake apartments are not affected and to deal with any outstanding planning matters.

Tribute Homes who could not be contacted.