Welsh Council to unveil regeneration masterplan

Newport Council is set to unveil a new plan for transforming the Pill neighbourhood of the city, which the authority described as facing ‘ongoing challenges’.

The local authority, which is located in a city in Wales, announced yesterday that a new green corridor will be developed around Pill park, bringing together outdoor play and sports areas and serving as a home for community gatherings. Alongside this, Commercial Road will be rejuvenated at the ‘heart of the Pill’ – a mixture of businesses, shopping, leisure and community uses will be added to the site.

In addition to the green corridor, the council have outlined plans to remove unused street furniture from Commercial Road and replace it with new trees and shrubs, making the area a more sustainable environment.

The southern entrance to Pill, in Alexandria Road, will be ‘revitalised’ to encourage visitors into the area, including those to the new Transporter Bridge Visitor centre, which is currently being built.

New lighting and CCTV will also be installed and there could be changes to parking in a bid to ‘further reduce the impact of traffic on the pedestrian and business environment.’

According to a council report, Pill has been succumbed to ‘significant levels of deprivation and specific issues associated with community safety’, which why the decision has been made to regenerate the area.

Youth services have been earmarked as one way to improve these issues, and a new centre for young people could be built.

The plan which Newport City Council’s cabinet are set to receive this week, said: ‘Pill has a large population of young people and a bespoke multi-functional youth facility that offers a place for young people to play sports, undertake creative and digital activities, access advice and training, and be able to relax and socialise in would help to strengthen their wellbeing.’

Image: Callum Blacoe