A NEWPORT pub looks set to demolished as part of plans for an affordable apartment complex.

Newport council approved the proposals - part of a new regeneration project from the Pobl Group - today.

The affordable housing group required a compulsory purchase order from the council to buy the three-storey Hornblower pub at 126 Commercial Street, having already taken over the other six units.

They plan to demolish each of the buildings at 123-129 Commercial Street and build 30 affordable apartments for over 55s, a retail unit and a new entrance to the Park Square car park in their place.

Without the acquisition of the pub, the project could not go ahead, so Pobl appealed to the council to buy the building and then sell it on to them in case negotiations with the pub's owner broke down.

At a meeting of Newport city council’s cabinet committee today, the council agreed to the measure and Seren are now set to apply for planning permission for the development.

Explaining why Pobl needed the order, Beverley Owen, head of regeneration, investment and housing at the council, said: “Negotiations are still going well. However, there’s still a danger that it could break down.

“[The building’s] fallen into quite significant disrepair, attracting anti-social behaviour, leading to a dangerous structural situation.”

A report delivered to cabinet on the plans notes that the two upper floors of the pub had been damaged by fire.

It read: “The proposed building is in a critically important position opposite the Kingsway Centre and would be an ideal project to provide the catalyst for regeneration in this area of Newport.

“This proposed provision in such a central location close to all the local facilities would be of considerable benefit to those relying on social housing in Newport.

“Economic benefits will include the employment of local workers since the developer will be employing up to 50 workers on the site during every week of the contract.”

The leader of the opposition, councillor Matthew Evans, who attended the meeting as a member of the public, backed the cabinet’s decision.

“I think it’s absolutely the right decision to take and landlords have to take some responsibility as well," he said.

“Hopefully, it will send a message to some of the other landlords in the city who don’t take their responsibilities very well either.”

The Hornblower was contacted for a comment.