THE layout of two Cwmbran town centre roads may need to be altered, if permission is granted to build an access route to the site earmarked for a proposed 1,000-place college.

Councillors from Torfaen’s planning committee will decide whether to support the proposal, which runs through land formerly owned by Meritor in Grange Road.

The site was developed in 2011, when a hybrid application was approved, leading to development of the Morrisons supermarket on St David’s Road.

In the report written by Rebecca McAndrew, the authority’s principal planning officer, both of those roads will experience change if the plan goes ahead.

“Access to the site is currently gained off Grange Road. It is proposed to construct a new access road to the site off St David’s Road, to the west of the site,” she said.

“The existing bus stop on St David’s Road would be relocated 20 metres to the north.

“Grange Road would be stopped up to the south of the application site and a turning head constructed. Access for pedestrians and cyclists on Grange Road would be maintained.”

In 2011, planning permission was given to develop a food store and reconfigure the industrial development at the Meritor site.

The consent also allows for offices, leisure facilities and a hotel with ancillary A3 use – a restaurant or snack bar – and the planning authority are looking to add the college into the development.

“Since the granting of the previous outline consent, the authority and Coleg Gwent have worked together to reconfigure sixth form education within the borough,” added Ms McAndrew.

“The Welsh Government has approved plans to create a central sixth form college in Cwmbran. It is proposed to locate this college on the application site, along with a mixture of other uses which are broadly in accordance with the outline consent.

“It is anticipated that a hybrid planning application for this scheme will be submitted for consideration in the next few months; those proposals are currently the subject of a formal pre-application consultation by the applicant.”

She added the application only applies to the road itself, and at this stage does not include to the work associated to the construction of the college, which is planned for September 2020.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 4pm.