WORK is set to begin this spring on the construction of a new £1.3m hostel for young homeless people in a Gwent town.

Rapidly rising house prices and a massive shortage of affordable housing have contributed to more than 1,100 homeless presentations being made to Torfaen council during 2003/4.

Now it has given the green light to a major project which will provide shelter and training for young people aged 16-25 from Torfaen.

The council currently spends £450,000 a year on bed and breakfast accommodation for young people, placing some as far afield as Bristol and Cardiff.

In November it unveiled plans to build a short-stay 20-bed hostel in Osborne Road, Pontypool.

Torfaen's mayor, Councillor Yvonne Warren, has called the project "a fantastic opportunity to provide support and training to young people".

She added: "The reality is that homelessness can happen to anyone very quickly, particularly if there are financial or family problems.

"We have to get away from the stereotype of young homeless people who are involved with drugs and drink. So many young people are homeless simply because of the lack of affordable housing.

"At the moment vulnerable young people from Torfaen who are homeless find themselves in accommodation a long way from their home town, and we have no control over the environment they live in."

Councillor Warren said talks with residents in Osborne Road had been "positive".

The 24-hour manned hostel will be on the site of the now disused TA building, which is to be completely demolished, if planning permission is granted. Beds will be provided strictly on a referral basis.

An application was submitted to Torfaen's planning department shortly before Christmas, and a decision is expected as early as February 5.

The project is being run by a partnership group which includes Fairlake Housing Association and Solas, the homeless support organisation in charge of Newport's homeless facilities.

Assistant director of Fairlake Neil Barber said he expected work to begin this spring, once plans were approved.

He said: "Things are moving fast, but we are committed to talking to local residents. We have had a number of meetings with people and are listening to their concerns."

About £1.1m of the cash needed to build the hostel is available in the form of an Assembly grant.