PLANS have been submitted to redevelop part of Kingsway Centre and create a new public square.

The proposal by Queensberry’s Real Estate, which was behind the Friars Walk project, is to demolish 68-72 Commercial Street and the Emlyn House office building to make way for a 18,930sq ft public square, designed to regenerate the southern part of Commercial Street.

Daniel Mead, Queensberry’s Real Estate Asset Management Director, said: “Queensberry hopes that the planning permission for a new public square and associated development at Commercial Street, Newport will be obtained following Newport City Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday, December 7, 2016.

“Queensberry and its advisors, Boyer and Colman Architects, have worked closely with officers at the council throughout the evolution of the scheme, dating back to late 2015.

“Subject to the receipt of an acceptable planning consent, Queensberry will work towards bringing forward the project during 2017 and in turn helping to achieve the significant positive benefits associated with delivering the carefully considered regeneration scheme in the heart of Newport city centre.”

In the planning application, it says that the front edge of the square would be defined by a line of trees.

To the rear of the square, there’d be a stepped seating area and an activity space. However, the exiting ramps to the entrance of the shopping centre and Wilko would be retained and re-paved.

Planters in the centre of the square would have granite walls at a suitable height for seating.

Outline plans have also been submitted for the construction of a new building on the side of the square, which would be up to five stories high.

The building could be done in a small or large scale and could be used as a café or community uses.

“Containing a run-down retail block and presenting low-quality environment, the existing site is in urgent need of redevelopment,” it says in the application. “It currently does nothing to encourage pedestrians down Commercial Street or through the shopping centre from John Frost's Square.

“Following the success at Friars Walk, the proposed Emlyn Square development can complement numerous recent schemes in positively transforming and regenerating the city.

“In the early 2010's Newport was faced with the common threat to city centre retail and businesses from modern out-of-town developments.

“Newport has successfully fought back against this trend with a range of recently completed projects and investments that have delivered a huge transformation for the city.

“We hope that the new Emlyn Square development can add to this list of successful projects and regenerate the forgotten southern end of Commercial Street."