AN affordable home scheme that could see 18 houses built by Powys County Council in Newtown will be decided by councillors this week.

The application at the former Red Dragon pub and Newtown youth centre site on Plantation Lane will be discussed at a meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, July 2.

The buildings have already been demolished to make way for the scheme.

The application will be decided by the committee as the application has been made by PCC’s affordable housing team.

The plans are for a mixture of 11 two-bedroom, three three-bed, two four-bed and one five-bedroom house and one three-bed bungalow.

According to the design and access statement, there are families on the housing waiting list that need these types of houses.

The report on the planning application, said : “Having carefully considered the scheme, officers are satisfied that the proposed residential development is in accordance with planning policies.

“The scheme proposes the development of a site within a sustainable location whilst also contributing to the supply of affordable housing to meet the varied needs in the county.

“As such, the recommendation is one of approval.”

Originally PCC had thought that many more homes could be built on the site.

It is part of the council’s commitment to build 250 homes in Powys by 2023.

As part of a  pre-application consultation Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council said it supported the scheme.

Natural Resources Wales had concerns about the development and how it would effect the local bat population – as the former pub had been a bat roost – but bat lofts are now being made part of the scheme to allay the environment authority's fears.

By 2023,  Newtown could have 26 flats built at the former bowling green site near the town centre, this scheme for 18 homes, and PCC has also bought another site with the intention of building 36 homes there.