A FORMER industrial site in Newport could be turned into a riverside ecological reserve.

Monkey Island, a promontory along the River Usk in Lliswerry, could be given to the council by the landowners who want to build a residential development next to the site.

The piece of land is part of the Orb works off Newport's Corporation Road and got its unusual name because its shape resembles a monkey sitting up.

Applicants Orb Electrical Steel Ltd and Corus UK Ltd have outline Planning permission to build on 12.4 hectares of land at the site. Planning officers estimate the developers could put some 300 properties on the land.

If they get full permission, they plan to gift Monkey Island to the council along with £25,000 to set it up as an ecological reserve.

The Countryside Council for Wales welcomes the offer as it says potential otter habitat has been identified in that area.

But Lliswerry councillor John Richards says before the land is adopted it is crucial to ensure the site, known locally as an industrial dumping ground, is cleaned up.

He said: "If someone offers you something for free you have to make sure you know what you're getting.

"I remember that site being used as landfill.

"There could be anything and everything down there and the last thing the council wants is to be landed with a contaminated site."

But he said the green wedge would be a good addition to an area where hundreds of houses will be built in coming years.

The council would also benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds in contributions to local education and public transport provision if the development goes ahead.