News

Newport City Council forced to re-schedule city centre redevelopment

News

Annabel Dixon

19 July 2010

Offices, Residential, Retail

Wales

Newport City Council has been forced to reconsider the timings of its city centre redevelopment.

This comes following the application for permission to proceed with supermarket chain Iceland’s legal challenge is tabled for after August 10.

Iceland launched its legal challenge in London earlier this year against the council’s compulsory purchase of properties in John Frost Square, Newport.

Last week a judge decided the case should be heard in Cardiff.

The redevelopment of Newport city centre follows the collapse of developer Modus Ventures in June 2009. Newport city council served formal notice on Modus’ £230m Friars Walk Newport development in August and confirmed then that it will acquire the properties via a compulsory purchase order.

Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of the city council, said: “We are extremely disappointed and angered that lodging the application in London has led to this long delay. I have now asked officers to reassess the timetable for appointing a new developer.

“We had hoped to have a developer on board by the end of the year but unfortunately the legal action is causing an unwelcome change to this timescale.

“We will be strenuously defending our position which we believe is in the best interests of the city and its residents.”

Councillor Ed Townsend said: “The council’s aim in making the compulsory purchase order for the properties in the John Frost Square area was to ensure the new shopping centre the people of Newport want and deserve could go ahead as quickly as possible.

“The scheme is one of the council’s top priorities and it has already made a number of key decisions to enable the site to be remarketed.

“We have always worked very positively with Iceland, and are continuing to hold talks with the company, as we want them to remain in the city centre.”

annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com

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Newport City Council has been forced to reconsider the timings of its city centre redevelopment. This comes following the application for permission to proceed with supermarket chain Iceland’s legal challenge is tabled for after August 10. Iceland launched its legal challenge in London earlier this year against the council’s compulsory purchase of properties in John Frost Square, Newport. Last week a judge decided the case should be heard in Cardiff. The redevelopment of Newport city centre follows the collapse of developer Modus Ventures in June 2009. Newport city council served formal notice on Modus’ £230m Friars Walk Newport development in August and confirmed then that it will acquire the properties via a compulsory purchase order. Councillor Matthew Evans, leader of the city council, said: “We are extremely disappointed and angered that lodging the application in London has led to this long delay. I have now asked officers to reassess the timetable for appointing a new developer. “We had hoped to have a developer on board by the end of the year but unfortunately the legal action is causing an unwelcome change to this timescale. “We will be strenuously defending our position which we believe is in the best interests of the city and its residents.” Councillor Ed Townsend said: “The council’s aim in making the compulsory purchase order for the properties in the John Frost Square area was to ensure the new shopping centre the people of Newport want and deserve could go ahead as quickly as possible. “The scheme is one of the council’s top priorities and it has already made a number of key decisions to enable the site to be remarketed. “We have always worked very positively with Iceland, and are continuing to hold talks with the company, as we want them to remain in the city centre.” annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com To access all EGi news stories and commercial property data sign up for a free trial today, or visit the subscription options page to find out more.