NEWPORT'S Sainsbury's store could be replaced with a superstore on the former gasworks site at Albany Street in Crindau.

Plans to be seen by the council today also include a new ramped road into the Crindau area off Heidenheim Way.

The plans are seen as a way of sparking regeneration in Crindau and include a drive-through restaurant, petrol station and parking for 540 cars. Sainsbury's want to move to a bigger store and the existing building could be used by a carpet or furniture retailer.

The new store would have a floor area of 7,600 sq m, compared with the 5,000 sq m of the existing one. The plans also suggest residential housing on part of the 5.6-hectare site that held a gasworks until it was decommissioned in 1969.

David Ward, director of Planning and strategy at Newport Unlimited, welcomed the new link off Heidenheim Way and said it could help bring in investment to boost Crindau. Such investment could make the idea of a marina at Crindau more feasible, he said.

Mr Ward said the plans would not hit the regeneration of the city centre and added that although a previous plan to redevelop the Kingsway and city centre included a superstore, the current scheme for John Frost Square and the surrounding area did not.

And sustainable transport group Sustrans said the relocation would harm the city centre by making the superstore less accessible and encouraging out-of-town shopping. The site is mostly empty but a some offices and garages would be demolished under the plan.

Committee members were to take a decision on the means of access and were not considering final designs. Planning officers have recommended the outline plans for approval.