Delays to Newport's Cambrian Centre scheme ‘to get things right’ (From South Wales Argus)

Delays to Newport's Cambrian Centre scheme ‘to get things right’

12:20pm Friday 7th September 2012 in News By David Deans, Reporter

WORK to start a development that could see more than a thousand jobs brought to Newport city centre has been delayed.

Scarborough Development Group has plans to demolish part of the Cambrian Centre and car park to create a six-storey office block, new shops and a public square.

It had been hoped work could start in June, but nothing has begun on the site and the firm now says it plans to begin work over the next month.

The development is planned to house hundreds of staff from Admiral Insurance who are currently based at Langstone Business Park.

It was previously reported that the development could bring 1,200 jobs to the city centre.

Mark Jackson, managing director of Scarborough Development Group, said the firm’s original programme was to start site works in June.

“However, this was revised as details of what is a complicated project were finalised,” he said.

“We now plan to begin work within the next month.”

Admiral’s head of property, Huw Llewellyn, said: “The Cambrian redevelopment is a complex project and we want to make sure we’re getting the right building for our employees and the city of Newport. We are confident we will be starting site preparation work in the next month and the development will be a great addition to Newport city centre.”

Demolition work would mark the start of the site’s regeneration.

Under Scarborough’s plans, a 358-space car park could be built, existing shops in Cambrian Road would be retained and additional shop space totalling 7,500 square feet could be added.