LOCAL authority planners have given the go ahead for their new headquarters to be built at Usk. Monmouthshire County Council approved the £8million application last week after a detailed submission was made to redevelop part of Coleg Gwent's Rhadyr site.

The authority originally refused outline permission on its own HQ last year until a number of concerns including a number of potential flooding issues could be resolved. The amended scheme was eventually granted in October 2010.

The new building will not be ready before the authority must leave its current home in Cwmbran by March 2012 as County Hall, which is shared with the Torfaen authority, has concrete cancer. Officers will be required to work from other buildings the authority owns throughout the county.