AROUND 124 new homes could be built at the site of a former colliery in Abercarn.

Barratt Homes and Charter Housing have applied for planning permission to build on land at the former Coed Celynen Colliery, Abercarn.

If the plans are given the go ahead the new homes would extend Barratt’s existing Coed Celynen development, which consists of 172 plots of one and two bedroom apartments as well as three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached homes.

Of the 124 new homes planned for the site, 65 will be affordable housing.

Fifty one of these will be available on a neutral tenure basis whereby the tenant allocated the property can decide if they want to rent or buy their home.

This agreement would be flexible and could change if the circumstances of the tenant change.

The remaining 14 homes will be available on a low cost home ownership basis, which means they would be sold to occupants for 70 per cent of their open market value.

Rhys Parry, speaking on behalf of Charter Housing said: “What we are doing is trying to address the local housing need and provide affordable housing for local people.”

Mr Parry said if the development were to get the go ahead, work would be carried out in stages to ensure sufficient funding was in place.

He said he was confident that despite the current state of the economic climate the development would still go ahead if it is passed by planning officers.

Abercarn councillor Denver Preece said he welcomed the new development: “It is a prestige site and is part of the regeneration of Abercarn. People need to be housed and the area will benefit from the development and the affordable housing that comes with it.”