AMBITIOUS plans to build a £60m city centre university campus would cramp Newport's "breathing space", one planning chief claims.

Speaking at a meeting of Newport council's planning committee, Councillor Harry Williams urged colleagues not to be hasty in supporting the bid from the University of Wales College, Newport - which would double the number of full-time students in the city.

Proposals were unveiled last month for a two-building complex on the banks of the Usk for 3,000 full-time and 2,000 part-time students. The UWCN also wants to house 500 students in the city. Councillor Williams said: "There seems to be a great deal of enthusiasm for these plans. But they strike me as rather odd.

"I have doubts about a university which generates so much life being smack in the middle of the city.

"It will push business out or take up valuable room which could be commercial space. I am worried we are too thirsty for success."

He asked the planning committee to consider the success of universities that chose to locate well away from the city centre.

He added: "Many of the older universities would've loved to have the same out-of-centre site as places like Exeter and Lancaster.

"I support expansion but we should think of a similar scheme. It would give Newport breathing space."

The proposals, which have not reached a formal planning application but could see a completed campus by August 2006, would mean selling off the university's Allt-yr-yn campus.

Councillor Noel Trigg said the new campus should be placed on the other side of the river, further away from the centre and in an area that needed the jobs and money more. Councillor Bob Poole said: "Cardiff has greatly expanded its university in the city centre and it's worked very well, giving the city a different slant.

"These plans will greatly enhance Newport city centre." James Lusty, UWCN's vice- chancellor, told the Argus: "New university campuses have been shown to provide a real spur to regeneration and positively change economies, examples of which are Lincoln and Strathclyde universities."

UWCN is working with regeneration group New-port Unlimited to produce a report expected in autumn.