COUNCILLORS have approved plans to build 143 houses between Cwmbran and Pontypool.

The reserved matters application approved last week forms the latest phase of a 1,200 home development in South Sebastopol which was approved in 2014.

House builders Taylor Wimpey are behind the latest phase to create the “village core” of the development on three fields.

Under the plans the development will include a range of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses with two,three, four and five bedrooms.

The vast majority of the houses, 126, would be two-storey in height, while six one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments are also planned.

Three buildings would have retail units on the ground floor with apartments above.

A total of 20 affordable homes are included in the plans.

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A planning report says it has not been possible to provide direct disabled access to the canal edge as part of the development.

Instead a footpath from Bevan's Lane canal bridge has been provided.

Cllr Steven Evans said he was concerned the proposal would 'disadvantage' people with disabilities.

"Being disabled you want the shortest route possible not the longest," Cllr Evans said.

Planning officer Helen Smith said the arrangement was "not ideal", but that it was considered the best solution possible due to constraints of the site.

Cllr Stuart Ashley gave his support to the plans, but said the council needed to make sure planning rules were kept to by the developer.

He said: "I want to make sure that what we see in this application is what we get, because if any of the trees or hedgerows go we can't put them back again."

Cllr Ron Burnett raised concerns that there would not be enough school places in the area for the development.

Richard Lewis, head of planning and development, said a contribution of £6million to make improvements to surrounding schools was made as a section 106 agreement in the outline application.

The plans also include a village green area with a play area and a car park.

A pedestrian footbridge linking the canal towpath and the development of the other side of the canal has been mooted but does not form part of the application.