NINETY-four new homes are being proposed for a site opposite Newport's magistrates court that is currently being used as a car park.

The plan - submitted by Bristol-based Iesis Limited - would see 18 houses and 76 apartments built on the site, which fronts Usk Way between the Newport Student Village based at Endeavour House, and Jack's Pill.

The land is part of the urban regeneration site for the Old Town Dock area, and has previously been the subject of a proposed development of 228 homes, for which planning permission, subsequently lapsed, was granted late in 2007.

But that project did not come to fruition as redevelopment of the city's riverfront areas slowed with the onset of economic downturn and recession, and five years ago permission was granted for the site to be used as a 258-space car park, a purpose it still fulfils today.

The formal planning application for the new residential development was lodged last week with Newport council.

It proposes a variety of housing in buildings ranging from two-five storeys in height, with the main focal point to be Jack's Pill. The layout has been designed so the main frontage of the development looks over the waterfront, as envisaged in planning guidance for the Old Town Dock area.

A brief report by senior planners indicates no objection to the principle of residential development on the site, but the amount of apartments has been increased to 76 from an original proposal of 49, as a higher density was considered necessary given the site's inner city location.

Two objections have been made to the proposal so far, one from an individual based on concerns about the loss of a car park used by visitors to the nearby Passport Office, magistrates court and student village, and one from Natural Resources Wales which raises concerns over flood risk management and water contamination and pollution issues, though this objections could be subject to review based on further information from the developer.