Newport Placemaking Plan wins Strategy award at The Pineapples

Last night, the Newport Placemaking Plan took home the Golden Pineapple for Strategy, recognising the team’s tireless work and the exciting change ahead for this fiercely independent city.

It’s a project that embodies what we believe good placemaking should be all about: inclusivity, inquisitive engagement, and an ambition to shape places according to the spirit of the communities they serve.

A place shaped by the spirit of its people

The Newport Placemaking Plan is setting a new course for a city defined by its independent spirit. As part of the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme, we collaborated with Newport City Council and the people of Newport to bring about a new era for the city centre.

The plan addresses placemaking fundamentals—centring community, civic pride, identity, meaning, safety, activity and vibrancy.

But the scheme’s impact stems from the depth of community listening and collaboration. To capture the energy of the city, we partnered with Cowshed to engage over 1,700 residents and business owners. This resulted in ‘60 Big Ideas for Newport’.

These ideas are brought together as a clear vision for Newport’s next era, with a set of short, medium, and long-term initiatives that everyone is invited to help shape and deliver.

“Newport’s most immediate challenge was not simply one of buildings and spaces, but of confidence, perception, identity, and civic pride. This success shows that people make places, and that strategies must work with local communities, harnessing and supporting their energy and spirit.”

Tudor Jones, Associate Director

A new chapter begins

While the plan looks ahead to 2040, change is already visible. “Quick win” projects, including street art and new outdoor performance spaces, are already injecting life and music back into the streets.

But the story doesn’t stop here. Momentum is beginning to build behind bigger wins for the city, too, with £20m in central government ‘Pride in Place’ funding secured to accelerate regeneration.

We’d like to thank the people of Newport for their generosity in sharing their voices, their aspirations, and their ideas—and extend a huge congratulations to the Placemaking team and our partners at Cowshed. It’s an honour to play a part in shaping the future of this special city, and we’re excited for this next chapter.

“The way in which this strategy for Newport was rooted in the place and the ambition that ‘Newport needs to fall in love with Newport again’ was truly inspiring.”

The Pineapples Judges’ Comments

If you’d like help to deliver a bold, inclusive placemaking plan that serves its community, why not reach out to Tudor Jones today?