Plans to change the use of a series of retail units in Queensway, Newport, into offices have been submitted to the city council.

The units make up part of the Station Quarter at the former Cambrian Centre.

They were built at the same time at Admiral House, which houses more than 900 employees of the Welsh insurance company Admiral.

The proposal, submitted by SDG (Newport), of Leeds, also seeks permission to modify the units, including the installation of new frontages into the existing retail openings.

The consultation response to the application states that while retailing should continue to underpin town centres, it is only one of the factors which contribute towards their vibrancy.

It said: "The existing building frontages do not form part of the primary or secondary shopping frontages and therefore there is no requirement to protect them for retail use.

"A change of use to B1 (office use) would be appropriate given the proximity of Newport Railway Station and other grade A offices, such as the Admiral building, nearby."

The buildings border the Station Quarter plaza at the former Cambrian Centre, which faces the railway station. Since being built only one unit has been taken by a gym, with the others remaining empty.

The area was designed by architects Holder Matthias, who were responsible for the state-of-the-art Admiral building.

Plans for a new six-story office and education building on the corner of Queensway and Cambrian Road were granted with conditions in July 2016.

The application by developers SDG (Newport) Ltd was to construct the new building above the John Wallace Linton.

They were the latest stage of the redevelopment of the Cambrian Centre.

The plans also involve demolishing the existing façade of the Wetherspoon’s-owned pub, to be replaced by a new frontage tying in with the design of the new building.