NEWhomes will be built on a former school site in Newport, councillors agreed.

Durham Road Infants School will be demolished and replaced by up to 45 apartments after the city council’s planning committee gave the green light to Linc Cymru’s outline proposals at a meeting on Wednesday.

The homes, which could include 43 two-bedroom and two one-bedroom apartments, will be accommodated within a U-shaped building backing onto Elysia Street, Rockfield Street and Durham Road.

The St Julians site has been vacant since the school closed in December 2009 after pupils moved to the purpose-built Glan Usk Primary. Ward councillor Ed Townsend spoke at the meeting on behalf of residents, who he said welcome the scheme in principle, but are worried a three-storey building facing Elysia Street would overlook homes on the other side of the road. He said residents had not been properly consulted and asked for members to visit the site before making their decision.

Cllr John Richards said the application had “been a long time coming” and said the development would improve the focus and atmosphere in the area.

He also welcomed suggestions that 30 per cent of the apartments could be designated as affordable homes and some could be for the over 55s.

Cllr Valerie Dudley said she supported the application but was concerned about the height of the proposed three-storey building.

She asked if the development could be turned round so it would not face the existing homes and suggested members visit the site before making a decision, which was rejected.

Members voted to approve the plans with five votes to four.