Planning permission for Newport's new £20 million leisure centre has been granted

Plans for a £20 million new leisure centre in Newport have been given the official go-ahead.

Proposals for a new leisure centre, community health and wellbeing centre and pool hall to replace the existing Newport Centre were first unveiled last year and were given planning permission by Newport City Council this week.

The facility, which is estimated to cost in the region of £19.7 million, will be built on Usk Way, a short distance from Newport Centre, which is set to be demolished.

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The centre will include a pools complex, an activity multi-purpose hall and fitness, health and wellbeing facilities, and a roof garden.

However, there will be no provision for a live music venue, as is the case with the current Newport Centre. The decision not to hold live music in the new leisure centre has received a mixed reception from Newport's arts community. You can read more reaction to that here.

The site would run alongside the Usk river (KEW Planning)

Submitted by the council on behalf of property consultant Kew Planning, the planning application said the project aims to utilise a "parcel of land that has been vacant for a substantial period of time, with no accessibility to the public", namely the site adjacent to Newport City Campus along Usk Way.

The plans claim Newport Centre is "no longer fit for purpose and therefore is no longer able to serve the local community."

In August Newport Centre confirmed the permanent closure of its swimming pool after it was deemed "beyond viable repair" following an inspection. Other facilities in the centre including its gym and classes remain open as normal.

Newport Centre's swimming pool was closed permanently earlier this year after it was deemed beyond repair (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

The centre first opened in 1985 and offers leisure facilities and spaces for corporate events. It has also hosted gigs from the likes of David Bowie, Ed Sheeran and Alice Cooper.

Earlier this year the leisure centre plans secured £7 million in funding from the Welsh Government. Newport City Council has also approved plans to replace the Newport Centre site with a new Coleg Gwent campus. The council's cabinet has already agreed to dispose of the Newport Centre site to Coleg Gwent, with talks ongoing.

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