PLANS to restore and maintain a historic arcade in the centre of Newport have been revealed.

Earlier this year Newport City Council was awarded a £177,300 Heritage Lottery Fund grant towards the development of a scheme restoring the Grade II listed Market Arcade.

And now, ahead of a second funding bid, the council has presented its proposed priorities for regenerating the market, which was built in 1869, and the surrounding city centre, and has launched a consultation on the plans.

Among the priorities are to restore the arcade, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years, while encouraging businesses in the city centre to replace modern shopfronts with ones more in keeping with the historic appearance of the area.

The proposals also include banning parking anywhere within an area covering the High Street, the buildings running along it, the indoor market, Market Street and Griffin Street and the bus station.

Landlords could also be required to remove weeds and plants growing from their buildings and to prevent the use of “obtrusive” security features where possible.

A council report says the overall goal of the plan is “to phase out ill-considered modern additions and encourage their replacement with high-quality alternatives that respond to the traditional commercial character of each individual building or groups of buildings”.

The council's cabinet member for regeneration and housing Cllr Jane Mudd said she was "delighted" the project was in progress.

“We have a project group who have had to prepare several bodies of work in order for the council to apply for the final stage of funding early next year," she said.

“This has included drawing up a draft High Street Conservation Area Management Plan which examines the historic development character of the arcade, its significance, the risks and the opportunities of the Market Arcade and the wider High Street area.

“We have consulted on the project and, if our final bid is successful, work could take place from April 2018 to March 2020.

"It is a very exciting project and we hope we can take it to its natural conclusion by winning the final bid.”

Take part in the consultation at tinyurl.com/y8u9cacm

Comments must be received by Friday, December 8.