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

Higher house prices, lower heating bills: How council’s new tree plans could shape Newport

Newport | Nicholas Thomas - Local Democracy Reporting Service | Published: 16:06, Thursday April 24th, 2025.
Last updated: 16:06, Thursday April 24th, 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

Commercial Street, Newport

Thousands more trees could be planted in Newport in the next few years, as part of a new council strategy to improve the city’s so-called green infrastructure.

The local authority has set itself a target of reaching 25% urban canopy cover by the year 2032 – an increase of 7% on previous estimates.

The urban area includes residential neighbourhoods, parks, commercial and industrial sites, woodlands and roadsides within Newport’s city boundary.

There are around 250,000 trees within Newport, but in a new tree cover regeneration strategy, a senior councillor sets out ambitions to go further.

“Climate change and biodiversity are two of the biggest challenges of our time – it is vital that Newport City Council and [the] city are on the right track to meet our commitments to the residents and environment of Newport, for this generation and future generations,” said Cllr Yvonne Forsey, the cabinet member for climate change.

“One thing I think we are all agreed on is the importance of trees and the need to have more trees,” she added.

New plans unveiled for ‘innovative’ revamp of Fourteen Locks Canal Centre

“Trees are important because of the carbon they capture, the contribution to air quality they make, the shade they provide and the improvements to appearance of our living spaces, as well as supporting biodiversity.

“Increasing the tree canopy is fundamental to these aims.”

There are wide benefits of having more trees, including the obvious environmental impact they would have in a city committed to reaching ambitious carbon targets by 2030.

A 2020 study found Newport’s trees are worth around £2.2 million a year thanks to their roles in providing carbon capture, flood risk alleviation and air filtration.

Corporation Road, Newport

But they may also have other indirect effects on the city’s economy, by helping improve the look of the city and positively influence consumer behaviour.

“Shoppers prefer tree-lined streets as a more favourable place to visit”, claimed the council, pointing to research from the USA which suggested people may even be willing to accept higher prices in leafier commercial areas, compared to those without trees.

House prices could go up, heating costs could come down, and residents would be protected from “urban heat islands” if there is more tree cover, the council added in its new strategy.

Libanus Lifestyle to host Community Engagement Day for new garden project

Currently, the council is on track to plant 27,000 new trees by 2028, and will set further targets after that date.

Yet there are challenges, including ash dieback disease, which has ravaged populations of one of the city’s most common tree types.

As recently as 2019, ash was the fourth-largest tree species in Newport, but has “significantly declined” since because of the disease and the need for felling to stop its spread.

Further challenges lie in making sure moves towards a greener Newport are also equitable – some parts of the city, including Pillgwenlly, at just 5% tree cover – lack larger trees and a diversity of species.

Commercial Road, Pill

Following the publication of the new tree strategy, the council is expected to launch a public consultation, seeking views on its implementation.


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
Google

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.