Newport City Council’s cabinet is seeking the public’s views on a plan to transform leisure facilities in the city centre.
A proposed new leisure and well-being centre would include a pool, fitness studio and health and well-being areas as well as modern changing facilities and a café.
It is planned to put the new state-of-the-art centre on a key brownfield site on the riverfront
This would enable the vacated Newport Centre site to be used by Coleg Gwent for a £90m further education campus creating the Newport Knowledge Quarter and bringing hundreds of students and staff to the city centre
The new leisure centre will be built to BREEAM excellent standards, with sustainability and future-proofing at its core. Together with the new campus, enhancements to Usk Way and the active travel connectivity, this will create a high quality place and “green lung” in the city centre.
Cabinet has agreed to consult with residents and stakeholders to find out what they think of the proposals and what leisure facilities they would like to see in a new centre.
Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader of Newport City Council, said: “We have an amazing opportunity to create a new leisure centre in the city centre. As a cabinet, we are very excited by the prospect of being able to provide fantastic new facilities, in an accessible location, for the citizens of Newport.
“On top of that, it would mean Coleg Gwent could realise its ambition for a city centre campus to give our young people a first-class learning environment.
“This will be a multi-million investment in healthy bodies and healthy minds. A new leisure centre will undoubtedly attract more users and the campus will also increase footfall thereby boosting the city centre economy and supporting local businesses.
“The next step, before we make a decision, is to hear from our residents. We want to know what you think of the proposals and what leisure facilities would be most important to you. Don’t miss the chance to be a part of what promises to be a wonderful new chapter for the city and its residents.”
Steve Ward, chief executive of Newport Live, added: ““We are extremely excited about the prospect of a new leisure centre in the city. This provides a fantastic opportunity for our customers and the wider community to access increased and improved leisure facilities in the heart of the city centre.
“This will allow the team at Newport Live to support more of the people of Newport with their physical and mental wellbeing while having fun, and to continue to inspire a healthy and active city. I would strongly encourage all of our customers and residents in the city to take part in the consultation in order to help shape this exciting new development.”
Surveys have confirmed that the pool at the 35-year-old Newport Centre is beyond viable repair.
It is being recommended that the site is transferred to Coleg Gwent for a new city centre campus.
Guy Lacey, principal of Coleg Gwent, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity to create a home for the College in the heart of the city, as well as delivering brand new leisure facilities. It will enable us to provide excellent education and training, in state-of-the-art facilities, for all the people and businesses of Newport.”
An application for part-funding towards the creation of a new leisure and well-being centre is being made to Welsh Government. The balance of the cost will come from an agreed reduction in the cost of the Newport Live subsidy and council reserves.
Consultation begins on 17 December and will continue until 29 January.
