THE man behind the redevelopment of two of Newport's most iconic buildings has said he won't invest further in the city because of what he sees as the disheartening attitude of some city council staff.

Jahan Abedi, one of TV's Secret Millionaires, is currently refurbishing the former King's Hotel in High Street into top quality office accommodation and residential units.

He has previously undertaken the redevelopment of the former Shire Hall at Pentonville into luxury apartments.

But he said he has found the 'computer says no' attitude to red tape of some council employees to be 'disheartening'.

Mr Abedi, speaking to Business Argus as he welcomed the first tenants into the new King's Chambers office accommodation at the former hotel, which is now called King's Court, praised senior council employees for their forward thinking.

He said it was down to them, including head of strategy Sheila Davies, that he originally invested in Shire Hall and then took on the 150-year-old former hotel, King's Court.

As part of the King's Court scheme, Mr Abedi received funding from Newport City Council through the Vibrant and Viable Places programme, which he said helped make the scheme possible.

He said: "I do appreciate the council providing the funds through the VVP fund that made the King's Court project possible. The council took a leap of faith in this venture. I hope they are happy with the result and the fact that the money is being repaid with interest in such a short time frame."

Mr Abedi said: "There is a feel good factor in the city at the moment. When I first came to Newport three years ago everyone though I was crazy. Now people are taking an interest in Newport and taking a look at the opportunities here.

"If the council was a little bit more supportive solving the red tape which is always being in front of developers, we would be able to do much more in Newport.

"Even now we are still getting some red tape put in front of us. Certain people in the council have got the right attitude towards getting the job done and getting the city moving. It's when you get people with the right attitude towards developers that you can manage to turn a city like Newport around."

Mr Abedi is set to start work on another historic building in the city centre and said he will not walk away from the city until that it complete.

"I have found it a bit disheartening. After the third project I will not be doing any more in Newport because obstacles have been put in my way. I will complete the other landmark building because I am committed to it, but that will be it.

"The work we have done on Shire Hall, King's Court and the third building will all change Newport. They were previously empty buildings but when they are complete the council will receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in council tax from them.

"I love Newport and can really see the city as Cardiff was about 30 years ago. I can see that with the right attitude, Newport can become on of the major cities in the UK because of things like the Celtic Manor and the M4 relief road and because of where it is."

A spokesman for the city council said: "Newport City Council welcomes the contribution Mr Abedi has made to the residential regeneration in the city centre. Two landmark buildings have now had new life breathed back into them, and the council was pleased to have been able to provide significant financial support to assist him with the development of Kings Court.

"The council is, however, surprised to hear that Mr Abedi feels he has encountered service issues when dealing with the council. The council’s officers have enjoyed a positive working relationship with him on the two most recent projects. The council works on numerous projects on a daily basis, and welcomes feedback on its operating processes, but is not aware of any specific issues in relation to this project. 

"The council understands that Mr Abedi’s investment decisions are a commercial decision for his company, but can confirm the door is always open to ambitious developers who can help take the city forward."