PART of Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital is to be transformed in a major new development.

Plans for a new health science institute to replace a number of old buildings in the hospital grounds were given the go-ahead this week - but not without controversy.

The specially designed building, costing around £3 million, will replace a three-storey office block which has been empty since 1995. It is on the edge of a conservation area on the corner of Clytha Square and Cardiff Road.

The institute, a modern white and green building being created by Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, will provide improved facilities for those people attending the hospital for training.

Members of Newport council planning committee were assured the institute would not generate extra parking in the area, which already lacks space for cars.

In fact, the plans include 12 extra car parking spaces in the hospital grounds Committee members voted just five to three in favour of the plans going ahead. Councillor John Marks said he had no objection to the institute itself, but was concerned about the disruption that would be caused during building work.

"It is the narrowest part of Cardiff Road where there is always a line of traffic waiting to go into the hospital and I believe it will be absolute chaos," he said. Councillor Ray Truman added that it was a shame they planned to get rid of another "fine building".

"I'm not in favour of the new design; it sticks out," he said. "It's a pity they couldn't keep the features of the old building."

Councillor Erryl Heath agreed: "If it was somewhere else other than a conservation area I wouldn't have a problem. Why can't the frontage be kept as it is?"

Councillor Bob Poole voted for the plans, saying: "It's the best possible thing we could have for the area. I don't want to stand in the way of progress."

The plans include: a lecture theatre, seminar room, reception area and exhibition space in the basement and on the ground floor; library on the first floor; three seminar rooms and tutorial rooms on the second floor; offices on the top floor.

Sean Hannaby, the council's development control manager, said planning permission for car parking on the site had previously been refused because it was a conservation area, but he considered the institute a suitable replacement.