News
Newport's Regeneration is taking shape
1/3/2010
Work is progressing well on many regeneration and redevelopment projects in the City of Newport. New homes, a university campus, railway station and a riverside park are all due to be completed this year.
Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of the council, said: “We are looking forward to many of these schemes being completed during what promises to be a significant year. These exciting projects will bring further benefits for both the city and our residents.”
Gareth Beer, interim CEO of Newport Unlimited, said: “It is pleasing to see that many projects are progressing well and are expected to be completed in Ryder Cup year.”
The new Ł35 million university campus in the city centre continues to take shape and is due to be completed later this year. The new campus will provide a home for the Newport Business School and the digital media, film and design elements of Newport School of Art, Media and Design. The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Peter Noyes, said, “At the centre of the new building will be a Hothouse which will be a focal point for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship - all areas that the University of Wales, Newport strives to excel in.”
The new Ł22 million city centre railway station is also on track with a landmark ticketing concourse and additional car parking. The projects are part of a huge, long term investment of improvements that also include new signalling and future electrification of the Swansea-London line.
Construction is under way on major housing projects by Fairlake, Redrow and Westmark and Taylor Wimpey along the River Usk.
A riverside park and walkway is also due to be finished in 2010 and Sainsbury’s is aiming to get its proposed new store, which will create around 200 new jobs, open in time for the Ryder Cup.
Meanwhile, pupils are enjoying Newport’s newest primary and secondary schools – award-winning Newport High, and Glan Usk Primary – and work is due to start on a replacement building for a further secondary school in the summer.
The city is looking forward to being on the world stage when it welcomes visitors to the Ryder Cup 2010. The whole of 2010 is a Festival Year for Newport with the city’s biggest ever events programme, featuring big name performers, spectaculars, fashion, cultural and sporting events. Hotly anticipated is the SuperDragons trail - Wales’ largest mass public appeal art event - which will see five foot dragon sculptures painted, decorated and adorned by local artists and displayed on a trail around the city.
