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City centre scheme 'dumbed down'
A £220 MILLION scheme due to revitalise Newport city centre is being "dumbed down", it was claimed yesterday.
Councillor David Attwell was referring to changes being made to the proposed Friars Walk development.
But other members of Newport Council planning committee described the amendments as "minor" and a majority gave the project the go-ahead subject to a number of conditions.
Among the design alterations were the use of different materials for some of the buildings, a flat roof instead of a sloped one on the residential tower, the gallery roof reduced to a single arch and the loss of some water features.
Officers said the changes were being made for practical and economic reasons.
Cllr Attwell said he was extremely disappointed with the application by Modus Corovest and the city council.
"I think the aesthetics are being completely spoiled. I thought we were going to have something to be proud of but it's become bog standard."
However, Cllr Mark Whitcutt said it was important not to exaggerate and many of the changes were cosmetic.
Cllr John Richards said the changes were minor in the whole scheme and said they must make progress while Cllr Paul Huntley said Friars Walk was set to be the "jewel in the crown" of the city centre redevelopment.
12:19pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 12:27pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Having seen the plans I can agree that these changes are minor and cosmetic in nature. The single arch roof is actually an improvement, as it removes all the obtrusive pillars from the body of the mall. The flat roof on the tower is an improvement because it results in more usable space.
Having seen the plans I can agree that these changes are minor and cosmetic in nature. The single arch roof is actually an improvement, as it removes all the obtrusive pillars from the body of the mall. The flat roof on the tower is an improvement because it results in more usable space.
Posted by: DG, Newport on 12:30pm Thu 27 Mar 08
A flat roof is more expensive to maitain in the long run and looks cheap and tacky. If this development is to be sucessful, you can't ignore the "cosmetic" stuff - that kind of attention to detail is the difference between a high-quality development and a low-quality one.
A flat roof is more expensive to maitain in the long run and looks cheap and tacky. If this development is to be sucessful, you can't ignore the "cosmetic" stuff - that kind of attention to detail is the difference between a high-quality development and a low-quality one.
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 12:35pm Thu 27 Mar 08
It's not entirely flat - just not pitched at 30 degrees like the previous design. Most towers have flat(ish) roofs anyway, so why the big fuss? A huge triangular void at the top is a waste of space.
It's not entirely flat - just not pitched at 30 degrees like the previous design. Most towers have flat(ish) roofs anyway, so why the big fuss? A huge triangular void at the top is a waste of space.
Posted by: tim, Magor on 12:40pm Thu 27 Mar 08
If they are so concerned why not do something about the rest of the city centre.I walked round yesterday and the place is a mess,dirty shopfronts,litter,fl
y posting,graffitti.It is a dump.
If they are so concerned why not do something about the rest of the city centre.I walked round yesterday and the place is a mess,dirty shopfronts,litter,fl
y posting,graffitti.It is a dump.
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 12:47pm Thu 27 Mar 08
"Do something about it"? Of course! Phone up the Civic Centre and tell them! They've all been sitting around on their arses wondering what to do all day...
"Do something about it"? Of course! Phone up the Civic Centre and tell them! They've all been sitting around on their arses wondering what to do all day...
Posted by: hatestupidpeople, newport on 2:02pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Owain - I hope that's a sarcastic comment.
Owain - I hope that's a sarcastic comment.
Posted by: chappy, newport on 2:05pm Thu 27 Mar 08
THE ROOF NOT VERY GOOD FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS TOO **** HOT.
ALSO HAVE THE GLASS BEEN REPLACED THAT WAS DAMAGED. THE FLOOR TO SLIPPERY WHEN WET. NO BINS FOR RUBBISH. BUT EVERYTHING ELSE FINE.
THE ROOF NOT VERY GOOD FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS TOO **** HOT.
ALSO HAVE THE GLASS BEEN REPLACED THAT WAS DAMAGED. THE FLOOR TO SLIPPERY WHEN WET. NO BINS FOR RUBBISH. BUT EVERYTHING ELSE FINE.
Posted by: Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire on 2:13pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]hatestupidpeople[/bold] wrote:
Owain - I hope that's a sarcastic comment.[/quote] That heavy degree of sarcasm didn't come over too well? Hmm...
hatestupidpeople wrote:
Owain - I hope that's a sarcastic comment.
That heavy degree of sarcasm didn't come over too well? Hmm...
Posted by: Dave on his soapbox, Casnewydd, Gwent on 4:29pm Thu 27 Mar 08
..it's the finishing touches that would have made this development stand out... it's radiply becoming 'Clone City' as most shopping malls are.... while this development has been decades over due (a little like Durham Road replacement school).... the planners seem hell bent on copying the other cities around us... a part of course hosting the Ryder Cup....
..it's the finishing touches that would have made this development stand out... it's radiply becoming 'Clone City' as most shopping malls are.... while this development has been decades over due (a little like Durham Road replacement school).... the planners seem hell bent on copying the other cities around us... a part of course hosting the Ryder Cup....
Posted by: tim, Magor on 5:27pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Owain Vaughan[/bold] wrote:
"Do something about it"? Of course! Phone up the Civic Centre and tell them! They've all been sitting around on their arses wondering what to do all day...[/quote] I am going to e-mial them,as they need to do something.The area around the river is looking better but the centre looked the worst I have ever seen it.
Owain Vaughan wrote:
"Do something about it"? Of course! Phone up the Civic Centre and tell them! They've all been sitting around on their arses wondering what to do all day...
I am going to e-mial them,as they need to do something.The area around the river is looking better but the centre looked the worst I have ever seen it.
Posted by: tim, Magor on 5:36pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Come on Argus lets have an article on the shabby state of Newport,the council may do something about it.
Come on Argus lets have an article on the shabby state of Newport,the council may do something about it.
Posted by: petes, Langstone on 9:45am Fri 28 Mar 08
Dumbing down? No, just standard practice for developers. A well-designed, eye-catching scheme is approved by planners, and then, surprise, surprise, the developer has to amend it for "practical and economic" reasons: in other words to make more profit. By the time the amended application is submitted, planners have little choice but to accept it or go back to square one and seek a new developer, by which time the costs will have risen to an unacceptable level. It's been standard practice for years and will continue to be until local authorities start rejecting the amended plans.
Dumbing down? No, just standard practice for developers. A well-designed, eye-catching scheme is approved by planners, and then, surprise, surprise, the developer has to amend it for "practical and economic" reasons: in other words to make more profit. By the time the amended application is submitted, planners have little choice but to accept it or go back to square one and seek a new developer, by which time the costs will have risen to an unacceptable level. It's been standard practice for years and will continue to be until local authorities start rejecting the amended plans.
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