Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Obituaries
  • About
    • Advertise
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Newport Council leader coy on future plans for city regeneration

Newport | Nicholas Thomas - Local Democracy Reporting Service | Published: 09:43, Thursday January 23rd, 2025.
Last updated: 09:51, Thursday January 23rd, 2025

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Newport Council leader Dimitri Batrouni
Newport Council leader Dimitri Batrouni

Newport’s council leader has described the city as “pro-business” but remains tight-lipped on his authority’s regeneration plans.

Cllr Dimitri Batrouni said the preparation of plans to revive the city “take time” and wouldn’t be unveiled until later the year.

He was responding to a question from the opposition leader, Cllr Matthew Evans, who asked on Tuesday what the city council was doing to fill empty units in the city centre.

Cllr Evans noted the old Admiral building, and the new office building – which has stood unused since it was built – on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office in Mill Street.

He said Cardiff had reportedly recorded its highest levels of office space takeup in recent years, and asked why Newport “can’t fill these units”.

Cllr Batrouni replied: “We’re ahead of you, but we won’t share the details until six months’ on.”

Cllr Evans also congratulated the council leader for his position on a proposed tourism tax.

The Welsh Government wants to introduce a levy, likely in 2027, charging visitors to stay overnight in Wales.

Under those plans, councils would be given the option to enforce the levy within their regions – but Cllr Batrouni has distanced Newport from taking up the policy.


Sign-up to our daily newsletter


Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

LDRS

Latest News

  • The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
    National Library on high alert over cyber attacksFriday, October 10, 2025
  • Aerial Image of the proposed development site (marked roughly in yellow) next to Coedcae Road, Abertridwr
    Plans for 17 new homes finally get thumbs upFriday, October 10, 2025
  • Caerphilly Sport Awards 2025 finalists announcedFriday, October 10, 2025
  • St Peter's Church, Deri, pictured in July 2025
    Church and hall could be transformed into two new homesFriday, October 10, 2025
  • Premier Stores in Bedwlwyn Road, Ystrad Mynach, pictured in June 2025
    Five flats proposed for space above shopFriday, October 10, 2025
  • Stock image
    Landlords count the costs of building safety billFriday, October 10, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, October 2, 2025
  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Hanbury Road, BargoedThursday, September 25, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Pontygwindy Industrial EstateThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 18, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.