Landmark Newport scheme set to move forward

Plans for a major new development in Newport are set to move forward after being recommended for outline approval.Acting on behalf of Newport City Council and Coleg Gwent, KEW Planning is seeking permission to demolish the Newport Centre on Kingsway to pave the way for a development of approximately 580,000 sq ft.The proposed building will be seven-storeys high, creating a transition between the eight-storey Kingsway multi-storey car park and the six-storey USW building.Based at a prominent corner location, it will be able to support education, office, hotel and leisure usages and follows approval being granted last year for the construction of a new leisure centre, about 110m south east along Usk Way.The new leisure centre is intended to replace the facilities within the Newport Centre which opened in 1985 but is now thought to have reached the “end of its useful life”.According to a report to be scrutinised by Newport City Council’s planning committee, it is considered that this prominent site has the opportunity to provide major regeneration benefits and the proposed uses would provide “a significant contribution to the vitality, viability and quality of the environment of the city centre”.The proposed education and leisure uses would provide new facilities which would contribute to wellbeing in the city, the report adds, and a retailing use would complement the city centre shopping area.The application has been recommended for approval.