THE Argus can today reveal the ambitious plans to regenerate Abergavenny town centre.

The project is based around the redevelopment of the town's Victorian cattle market and Brewery Yard site.

It also involves a replacement library, loft-style apartments, new shops and a 25,000-square-foot supermarket - in other words, a food store the same size as the existing Safeway store at Llanfoist.

The council plans which will go on public display next week are the result of years of discussion about the future of the cattle market site and Abergavenny itself.

And they join a raft of other retail plans currently under consideration by the council.

The council are now seeking outline planning permission for the scheme before inviting developers to tender to build.

The project includes: A 25,000-square-foot food store on the cattle market site. A new library.

Change of use of the slaughterhouse buildings to incorporate shops, office space and accommodation.

31 flats in total - 14 built alongside Lion Street, ten above the new library and seven loft-type flats in the developed slaughterhouse buildings.

231 car-parking spaces next to the superstore and 31 spaces for the new flats.

A pedestrian link between Bailey Park and the site.

Jeff Martin, the council's corporate director for environment, said negotiations were under way to secure a site for a replacement livestock market and that a food store operator has yet to be chosen for the site, which will be the same size as the Safeway store at Llanfoist.

The plans will be on display in the One Stop Shop in Abergavenny town hall from next Monday.

Later this month there will also be a manned exhibition at the council chamber in Abergavenny town hall, and the public are invited to register their opinion on the scheme with council officers. Council leader David Waring said: "There has been much debate in the town on this issue for over three years, and we have listened very carefully to the views that have been put forward.

"In particular we have been influenced by the views from traders and our own consultants regarding the size of the store, the need for a mixed-use development and the wish to transform the Brewery Yard from a backwater in the town centre into an important urban space in its own right."

Councillor Andre Arkell, chairman of the Bryn-y-Cwm Area Committee, said: "It is extremely important that we do not do anything that would undermine the indoor and outdoor markets - our Jewels in the Crown."