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Newport city centre and two neighbouring areas will be targeted for £20 million of new investment over a ten-year period.

Most of the money from the UK Government’s Pride in Place scheme will go towards capital projects – or physical improvements – in the Stow Hill ward and some parts of Pill and Victoria.

The way the money is spent will be overseen by a new independent board which will be made up of politicians, traders and members of the community.

City council cabinet members agreed on Wednesday to set up the new board, which will likely start its work in 2027.

The local authority’s leader, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, said Pride in Place would bring “more investment to key areas of the city”.

Cllr Saeed Adan, who is the cabinet member for housing but also represents Pill, said he hoped the money would be “targeted” to the areas experiencing the most deprivation and the board would attract residents from diverse backgrounds.

James Clarke, the cabinet member for regeneration who has overseen the development of the council’s placemaking plan, said the injection of £20 million into Newport “can only be positive”

Cllr Batrouni added it would be “really important” for community members to play a role in how the money was spent over the ten years.