Exciting city centre projects showcased on ministerial visit
Posted on Thursday 2nd September 2021
The leader of Newport City Council, Cllr Jane Mudd, was delighted to welcome Vaughan Gething MS, the Welsh government’s minister for economy, and Jayne Bryant MS on a visit to Newport yesterday.
The visit from the minister was an opportunity for the council to showcase new businesses and redevelopment initiatives in the city.
The tour took in two important city centre projects which have both benefitted from Welsh government funding: Newport Market and Newport Market Arcade.
Once complete, the redeveloped Newport Market will offer a combination of independent food & drink, retail, leisure, and workspaces.
The Market Arcade, the second oldest arcade in Wales, will also support new office and co-working space alongside traditional retail units once work on site is complete.
The tour also visited two creative Newport businesses: Bright Branch and Q Newport.
Bright Branch is a digital communications specialist that produces digital, behind the scenes and factual content for TV, social and global brands. Bright Branch benefited from assistance from the council when starting out back in 2018.
Q Newport, based in the old Queens Hotel, is a new collaborative workspace concept which offers members access to a restaurant, bar and hotel alongside office and co-working spaces.
Commenting on the visit, Cllr Mudd said: “I was delighted to be able to showcase some of the brilliant businesses and city centre projects to the minister.
“We are working hard as a council to continually improve the city centre economy. Important projects like Newport Market and the Market Arcade restoration are a key part of this work.
“It was also great to see the progress being made by both Bright Branch and Q Newport, creative businesses in the heart of the city which will help boost our economy.”