MORE than 200 new homes could be coming to Pontypool if plans are given the go-ahead.

Persimmon Homes Wales has applied to build 209 new homes at the former Panteg Steelworks site in Avondale Road, Sebastopol.

The new buildings will consist of two, three and four-bedroom houses which will be a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced buildings.

The site would be split into two phases with some homes being built on the southern part and then the northern part of the site.

Two play areas will also be placed at the site as part of a legal agreement between the developer and council.

An outline planning application was approved in December 2008 for the site to be used for residential development, employment uses and/or community uses.

Since then major clearance work has been undertaken to remove all of the buildings and structures from the site which measures 7.95 hectares. The Panteg Steelworks closed in 2004.

Part of the northern section of the site, which is not included in this planning application, has also been reserved for a proposed new school.

Two letters have been received about the proposed plans including one from a local resident who is concerned about the increase in traffic and one from the nearby Knauf insulation factory where staff are concerned about the effect noise from the factory will have on new residents.

A report to the planning committee states Knauf has now reached an agreement with Persimmon to place sound insulation measures in some of the homes to ensure acceptable noise levels.

Councillors are recommended to approve the plans subject to a number of conditions which include that this sound insulation is installed.