Proposed leisure centre could move to next stage
Posted on Wednesday 17th February 2021
Plans that could see the creation of modern leisure facilities and a further education campus in the heart of the city centre could take another step forward next week.
A key brownfield site next to the river is set to become home to a new leisure and well-being centre while Coleg Gwent could realise its ambition to have a city centre campus.
Newport City Council's cabinet will consider recommending the building of the centre and disposing of the Newport Centre site at a meeting on 22 February.
It follows a public consultation which had more than 1,000 responses with the overwhelming majority supporting the proposed new developments.
Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader of Newport City Council, said: "We had a fantastic response to the consultation even though nearly all the responses had to be completed online because of the coronavirus restrictions.
"It is clear that people share our view that residents deserve 21st century leisure facilities and a first-class college campus. As well as keeping people healthy and providing an excellent educational environment, the developments will have wider benefits including bringing more people into the city centre.
"Views were almost equally divided on the preferred option for the mix of leisure facilities and these will be taken on board as the project progresses and the design is refined. However, we are committed to ensuring the new centre is sustainable and as environmentally-friendly as possible.
"We are still in the early phases of this exciting vision for the future and there will be further opportunities for consultation and engagement, particularly at the planning application stage.
"As a cabinet, we will consider the officers' recommendations and all the consultation responses at our meeting next week."