A RETAIL giant's plans for its present site in Newport will go before planning chiefs next week, as the company gets ready to move to a new location in the city.

Sainsbury's already has the go-ahead from the council for a replacement supermarket on the land in Crindau once occupied by a gasworks.

Next week, city planners will consider proposals for a residential and hotel development on its existing site in Shaftesbury Street.

Outline details for 120 apartments, 26 houses and a five-storey hotel with 109 bedrooms have been submitted by the company.

Officers are recommending the scheme is approved subject to a number of conditions including a legal agreement regarding affordable housing as well as contributions towards leisure and highway improvements.

A report to next week's planning committees said a petition of 128 signatures and four letters were received objecting to an original scheme on a number of grounds.

Residents were re-consulted after amended plans were submitted and no additional comments were received.

It is being proposed to build a block of apartments plus a row of semi-detached and terraced houses along with the hotel.

The plans also include the upgrading of the riverside walkway and the addition of a separate cycleway. Parking spaces for 280 vehicles were also indicated.

Officers said the principle of primarily residential use was considered appropriate and the council's tourism officer supported the hotel as t would create jobs and bring in expenditure.

Details relating to appearance, landscaping, layout and scale will be submitted for future consideration.

Sainsbury's has to get approval from the Assembly for its new supermarket which will include a restaurant, 670-space car park and petrol filling station. It is expected to recruit around 200 new workers to join the existing workforce when they transfer to the new store.