Residents living near a proposed asylum appeals court in Newport have said they are angry they were not consulted about the plans before building work began.

The �3m hearing centre in Langstone, which will deal with appeals against immigration and asylum decisions made by the Home Office, is due to open before Christmas.

To say I have been inundated with people worried about this centre is an understatement

David Atwell, councillor

Work has already started at the premises, but the development is covered by legislation which mean normal planning controls do not apply.

Despite the project being protected by Crown Immunity, the developers - the Immigration Appellate Authority - are required to consult Newport council.

A planning consultation meeting with the council has yet to take place.

People living near the centre at Columbus House, Langstone Business Park, near the Coldra roundabout, have serious reservations about the proposals.

Councillor David Atwell said: "To say I have been inundated with people worried about this centre is an understatement.

"There has been so little information given out to residents that there have been all sorts of concerns.

David Atwell is angry about the centre

"Everyone is extremely worried about the effects this centre is going to have on Langstone," he said.

A petition asking for signatures in support of raising an objection against the centre has been started by people living nearby.

Mr Atwell said: "I feel that the centre would be far better placed in the city centre where people using the court would have better transport links.

"People are very angry that the crown - who are responsible for the centre - have special powers to enable them to do things like this without permission of the local authority.

"I think they (the crown) have not only gone through the back door but they have gone under the bottom of the gap of the back door.

We don't have the power to grant or refuse the proposal

Spokeswoman, Newport Council

"It is quite surprising how little was known about this from the Welsh Assembly all the way down through to our local council," he added.

A spokeswoman for Newport council confirmed that the crown has certain immunities in planning matters.

"The crown do have permitted development rights, but are required to consult the local authority."

She confirmed a planning consultation about the centre will be discussed on 30 October by the planning committee.

"We are being given the opportunity by the crown to tell them what we think.

Change of use

"But we don't have the power to grant or refuse the proposal.

"The views of the council will be fed back to the crown and it is up to them to decide what to do with that information," she added.

A spokesman for the IAA told BBC News Online: "Columbus House already has standard business planning consent, however an application has been made for change of use so it can be used as a court facility."

He said that the application had been submitted in September.

"The IAA has gone through the appropriate planning application process for change of use" he said.

"This allows representations to be made from the public, even though it is covered by a crown exemption from the statutory planning regime as would be the case for any other government building."

A public meeting to discuss the hearing centre will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Newport at 1800 BST on Friday 25 October.