Newport’s High Street facelift – described as the most exciting development to take place in a generation – will begin next month.
Telford & Wrekin Council will be pumping around £750,000 into the project including work to paving, street lighting, furniture and crossings.
Further improvements will be made to the Buttercross and Central Square areas with more parking spaces made available in Stafford Street.
St Mary Street has also been included in the project which has been informed by a design guide specifically produced for the town by renowned urban planner Colin Davis.
Plots of 80 metres will be sectioned off at each stage, revolving around Newport big dates including the Nocturn and Old Tyme Market.
Work is scheduled to begin after the Newport Carnival on Monday, June 14, running until the first week in November.
In an exclusive meeting held at the Advertiser offices this week, Telford & Wrekin planning officers said they would be nominating a contractor and finalising plans in the coming days.
Present at the meeting was chairman of Newport Regeneration Partnership High Street Committee David Parker.
He said they had been waiting for this moment for more than a decade.
“The Regeneration Partnership was set up 15 years ago and the borough council have worked very closely with the high street sub committee and many other groups in town,” said Mr Parker. “Two public meetings have been held over the last year showing potential designs and the proposals have been reviewed on each occasion.
“The high street will remain open for business as usual and this will be a question of short term pain for long term gain.
“This is the first time in a generation that something like has happened here.”
The funding has come through the Borough Towns Initiative which will see a total of £1.5 million spent in Newport over the coming years.
Traders workshops are expected to take place to keep shopkeepers informed of the plans with an operational base fixed permanently on High Street.
A community liaison officer will be appointed to assist the public.
Town and borough councillor in charge of regeneration Eric Carter said: “It’s immense for Newport. For many years it never got a penny and since we took over £1.5 million has been handed over which will see it transformed.”
Large scale ‘fly through photos’ will be put up for the public to view in the Guildhall and town library.
By Sam Pinnington