THE derelict Corn Bin building in Garndiffaith is a step closer to becoming a community facility after Torfaen council announced a £750,000 renovation of the site.

Councillors agreed to spend the amount from the £13.5 million regeneration funding announced for Pontypool in March.

The Corn Bin, on Stanley Road, was built in the 1800s as a bakehouse. It passed into the ownership of the local authority in 1984 and is currently derelict In 2007, a £500,000 Heads of the Valleys grant was secured from the National Assembly.

This was spent making the building watertight and structurally sound. It is estimated that approximately £750,000 is needed to complete the work that will include drainage, wall strengthening, car parking, newwindows and doors, a new front entrance atrium and new fixtures and fittings.

Once the building is complete, Torfaen council is considering transferring the building to Melin Homes.

Melin is currently bidding for Big Lottery and Assembly funding to purchase IT equipment to turn part of the Corn Bin into a training centre for IT technicians. The result of these funding bids will be announced in mid-2012.