Newport Placemaking Plan is an exciting collaboration where local voices help shape a revitalised city centre.
As part of the Welsh Government’s broader Placemaking agenda under the Transforming Towns Programme, the Plan will reflect the people of Newport’s shared vision to make the city centre a thriving place again.
The Challenge
Newport is a proud city filled with bold rebellious ambition, characterised by history, music, industry, and an independent spirit—but the centre specifically needs a new chapter in its history.
The Placemaking Plan seeks to evolve Newport’s city centre by building on its strong foundations, shouting about what’s good, and progress what needs fixing. The Plan strives for a new era for Newport with a welcoming, thriving, and celebrated centre that incorporates what defines Newport as a place: historically, today, and in the future.
A three stage approach
Stage 1:
Understanding the context
The first stage of the Plan was to map out Newport’s identity—its history, challenges, and strengths. Our goal was to build a clear picture of how the city centre functions in different ways to different people—and better understand the hopes, ambitions, and concerns of the local community.
Through early discussions with Newport City Council, local business leaders, and other key stakeholders, we clarified the need for a series of actionable short and long term projects that promote prosperity, happiness, and wellbeing.
Crucially, any projects would need to foster a sense of ownership among the local community, which led us to stage two.
Stage 2:
Engaging the public
The Placemaking Plan will need to tackle the specific experience of all those living, working, and visiting Newport City Centre and help answer how the city should develop in the future.
To capture Newport’s energy and ambition, we partnered with Cowshed to engage local people, businesses, and stakeholders, asking them to share what they love about their city and crucially, what they feel is missing.
From the people who call Newport home, to local traders, business owners, councillors, and visitors who pop in to shop, eat, and play, a huge array of voices contributed opinions and ideas.
From new walking routes to youth hubs, night time cafes, shop front makeovers, and a new home for the mediaeval ship, their suggestions now form the basis of 60 Big Ideas for Newport, a collection of ideas for a reimagined city centre.
To gauge the popularity and feasibility of those ideas, the suggestions were open to a public vote.
Stage 3:
Forming a detailed vision
The final stage of the Plan will consolidate the most popular, feasible, and impactful ideas as part of a comprehensive vision for Newport’s transformation over the next decade.
Naturally, the projects will range in size and scope. Some may be council-led, while others may rely on community and business involvement. But ultimately, the strategy aims to reflect the Plan’s inclusive philosophy, ensuring Newport’s evolution is one the entire community can be part of—and be proud of.
