PLANS to build a new £1.3 million hostel for the homeless in a Gwent town are to move ahead this autumn.

Torfaen council has confirmed a former disused TA centre in Pontypool is due to be demolished this November to make way for the 20-bed hostel.

The council's planning committee gave the green light to plans submitted by Newport-based Fairlake properties early this year.

Then project was given priority because of an increase of homelessness cases in the borough, blamed on rapidly rising house prices and lack of available social housing.

In 2003/2004 more than 1,100 homeless presentations were made to Torfaen council, 350 of them from young people aged between 16 and 25.

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

The 24-hour manned hostel will be operated by Solas, the Newport-based homeless support organisation which is working in partnership with Fairlake.

It will cater for 16-25 year olds from the Torfaen area.

Some £1.1million of the cash has come from the Welsh Assembly.

Councillor Gwyneira Clark, Torfaen council's executive member for housing, said: "There are a number of reasons why young people become homeless, and the programme of care that is due to go alongside this centre is extremely important.

"It would include basic house-keeping skills and cooking skills, which will be invaluable to them in their own homes.

"At the moment it's important to identify that there's an absolute need for a homeless hostel in the area."

A Torfaen council spokesman confirmed the former TA centre in Osborne Road was due to be demolished in November, with the site being cleared throughout December ready for construction in the spring.