A former pub in Cwmbran is being demolished and replaced with nine new homes.

Earlier this week Torfaen Council approved a planning application for the work to take place on the site of the Bottom Bridge on Greenhill Road in Forgehammer.

Melin Homes will build six one-bedroom flat and three two-bedroom houses. The planning application suggests that the pub closed in 2016.

The officer’s report said: “…extensive discussions and negotiations have taken place with the Conservation Officer to ensure that the site layout, massing and materials of the development maintains the site’s contribution to the Conservation Area. As a result of these negotiations the proposed development has been amended to reduce the number of dwellings from 10 to 9. This has enabled the development’s relationship with the canal and its setting to be improved by providing an active frontage to part of the canal. The design of the dwellings and the materials to be used have been also been amended to reflect the characteristics of the site and its setting. It is therefore considered that that this proposal preserves and enhances the character and appearance of the Conservation Area in this location.”

The council’s landscape asked for the boundary with the nearby canal towpath to be “retained as a green” asset. The officer asked for a native hedge to be planted with trees placed every nine metres.

The council’s conservation officer said: “….the current pub and site has no architectural merit and despite its aesthetic condition, would struggle to agree that on balance a traditional building in need of improvement is sufficient to be of detriment to the designated area.”