Newport’s Ł200m retail scheme is unveiled

Plans to transform the retail centre of Newport into a major shopping destination over the next five years have been unveiled by the City Council.

Newport Council has chosen Modus Corovest (Newport) Ltd as the preferred developers behind the Ł200 million facelift which will create hundreds of jobs in the city, and attract high profile retailers.

The development scheme will provide 390,000 sq feet of new and refurbished retail space, a major new department store, improved car parking facilities for 1400 cars, pedestrian priority areas, enhanced public spaces, new cafes, restaurants and bars together with 137 residential units.

Work on the four-hectare site is expected to start towards the end of 2006 and be completed in time for the thousands of visitors expected to the city for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Councillor Bob Bright, leader of Newport City Council said:
"This announcement is great news for Newport and will help to establish the city as a major retail centre.
"The City Council together with its partners has worked hard to attract such a prestigious scheme to Newport.
"The benefits of this scheme will be felt by everyone in Newport including existing traders and new businesses who will be attracted to this exciting development.
"The people of Newport will benefit from having a first class city centre for the 21st century. We will be providing better shopping facilities, extra car parking and will link the riverfront with the city’s commercial centre.
"Newport city council looks forward to working with Modus Corovest (Newport) Ltd to provide high quality retail opportunities and a vibrant city centre environment for people to live, work, and enjoy their leisure time."

The new retail scheme covers an area comprising of Kingsway, Upper Dock Street, John Frost Square and the Bus Station. A key feature of the development will be to bring together Newport’s riverfront and commercial centre, allowing people to walk easily between the two areas.

Historically, Newport has under performed in the retail stakes for a city of its size. The new scheme will turn the city’s retail fortunes around.

The redevelopment of Newport’s retail centre forms an integral part of Newport Unlimited’s City Centre Master Plan – the blueprint outlining the city’s regeneration.

The City Council has been advised throughout the process by Charles Miller of King Sturge.

After an extensive tendering process, Modus Corovest (Newport) Ltd was chosen from a shortlist of five major developers. These included AMEC, Multiplex Developments UK, St Modwen and Wilson Bowden. Proposals were assessed on the quality of their design together with their deliverability and financial offer to the City Council.

Brendan Flood, chief executive of Modus, said: “We are delighted to be working with Newport Unlimited and the City Council to provide a mixed use development commensurate with the City’s status. The real work now begins and we are thoroughly looking forward to the challenge.”

A new retail heart for Newport

The proposals by Modus Corovest are summarised below:
Please note these are proposals at this stage only and may be modified as the scheme develops.

Facts

• A mixed use development including retail, leisure, residential, public spaces, cafes and restaurants
• A total of 388,500 sq ft of retail including a 105,000 sq ft department store
• 12,500 sq ft of restaurants
• 6,000 sq ft Health Club
• 47,000 sq ft multi-screen cinema
• 137 city centre residential apartments, made up of low rise units and a residential 17 storey tower
• Improved car parking facilities for up to a total of 1,400 cars (including UBS provision)

• A two tiered shopping centre made up of high street retailers and independents. The jewel in the crown will be a major department store located in a prominent position adjacent to the new car park. The shopping centre or Galleria will be curved in design and covered by a simple glass canopy at the highest level. The top floor of the Galleria will feature cafes, bars and restaurants
• Residential and leisure provision, including a health club and cinema, will ensure the city centre is more than just a shopping destination. Restaurants overlooking the river together with residential units, most of which will be located in an iconic tower, will combine to provide extended evening economy
• Kingsway Boulevard and river frontage will be landscaped, with a new public space formed, called Usk Place, at the waterfront. The riverfront will be a place where people come to eat, drink and watch the world go by and will become an important environment. Landscaping will be contemporary, featuring bubble fountains, glass paving, and modern street furniture with traffic calming measures to give pedestrians the priority.
• A landscaped Riverside Park will be located between the Riverside Arts Centre, Usk Place and the proposed university campus will provide an essential waterside promenade. The park will feature an informal amphitheatre and showcase a variety of external art pieces.
• Pedestrian links across the site are achieved via Llanarth Street and Austin Friars – both of which are extended eastwards and developed to connect with the riverfront. Austin Friars will connect with the riverside via a new footbridge over the Kingsway Boulevard
• Major improvements to public access through the provision of state of the art bus facilities and substantial new car parking in a high quality environment.
  • Access to the car park is via Kingsway and a new highway configuration around the leisure centre using Emlyn Street.
  • The Bus Station will be a totally new facility integrated fully with the Galleria. The Bus Station will incorporate the Bus Box proposal, where buses move on a circular route around the commercial core. From the bus station, pedestrians have access to the city centre, Galleria or riverside area.
• Upper Dock Street is given a new important as a new north/south route between Corn Street and the remodelled John Frost Square
• John Frost Square will be remodelled. It will remain an important public space for public events and civic activities, and will feature the collapsing clock together with a new water feature
• Water forms a key part of the scheme with numerous water features spread about the city centre linking together the various areas and reinforcing the importance of the River Usk.
• High quality new architecture will be provided with new landmark buildings and gateways projecting a dynamic new image of Newport