MORE than 100 homes could be built as part of the second phase of a housing development at the former police training college in Cwmbran.

Located on Greenmeadow Way, the proposal comprises 108 ‘residential units’ and a play area and will add to the 219 homes of the development’s first phase.

In the report written by Helen Smith, of Torfaen council’s planning and public protection team, a range of housing types form part of the proposals.

“The site will consist of a mix of two, three and four bedroom dwellings in a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached dwellings,” said Mrs Smith in the report.

“There are also two blocks of two storey apartments proposed on the site.”

Originally, 456 homes were planned for the entire scheme, with a third phase set to follow, although the total number has been reduced to 350 properties.

If approved by Torfaen council’s planning committee, it will take the development to 327 homes, leaving just 23 for the final phase and considering the environmental aspects of the plans.

“As part of the process of the preparation of the local development plan (LDP), a draft development brief for the site was produced,” added Mrs Smith.

“In considering the proposed allocation, the inspector reduced the original proposed allocation from 456 dwellings to 350 dwellings to take into account the constraints imposed by the existence of the substantial areas of unimproved grassland on the central part of the site.

"During the examination of the LDP the inspector amended the number of residential units allocated at the site in order to ensure a balance between the site of interest for nature conservation (SINC) status and the need for housing."

However, Gwent Wildlife Trust have raised concerns over the loss of green space, which could affect biodiversity in Torfaen.

“It is estimated that by 1984, 97 per cent of lowland grassland in England and Wales had been lost,” said a trust spokesman in the report.

“At the last estimate in 2007, Torfaen supported just 10 hectares of this precious habitat. Since then, other areas of lowland meadow in the county have been lost or compromised, notably through the Llwyn Celyn cemetery and South Sebastopol developments.

“We therefore strongly object to the proposed further substantial loss of Torfaen’s lowland grassland habitats on this site.”

The proposal is listed as approve with conditions and the planning committee will review the plans for the development on Tuesday, April 17 at 4pm.