PLANNING for the future of Newport needs the city to "be bold", a new report has said.

In January Newport City Council unveiled its city centre masterplan, setting out a series of ambitions for building on recent developments and revamping the city centre over the coming years through schemes including increasing the amount of high-quality office space and regenerating historic buildings.

But, although the plan was praised by some for showing ambition to continue to regenerate the city centre, other criticised it for its vagueness.

And now Newport-based policy expert Nicolas Webb has put together an alternative masterplan.

In the 17-page report Mr Webb, a former chairman of the Newport Civic Society, said it was time for Newport to "be bold in its own distinctive ambition".

"The purpose of this alternative masterplan is not simply to improve Newport, but to create a radical step-change which would alter the current order of cities in Wales and the Severn region," he said.

"If one continues to view Newport as of secondary importance to its neighbours, then that outlook will become self-fulfilling.

"At the same time, our neighbouring cities are also our partners on the world stage, attracting investment, tourism and major events to the area.

"Newport should continue to be an active member of Cardiff Capital Region and seek to build upon the Great Western Cities report through closer working with Bristol and the West of England city region.

"The aim of developing an upwardly-mobile Newport is not to out-Cardiff Cardiff or try to replicate Bristol.

"Neither is realistic or desirable."

Among the suggestions are for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to be set up, with dedicated new bus-only routes.

Mr Webb said: "BRT will require laying new bus-only roads, or significant adaptation of existing roads, both of which will have an environmental impact.

"However if one considers the case of Caerleon, where the roads are clogged, new homes are being built and pollution is high, a dedicated BRT route to and from the city centre could go a long way to easing current traffic problems which impact on quality of life and the environment."

The report also says more should be done to encourage people to walk, suggesting a set of raised walkways may encourage more people to leave their cars at home.

"This approach is not just about creating a more pleasant environment, but it is also uninterrupted travel on foot between blocks which if you’d been walking at street level would have entailed regular stops for traffic lights to change," it said.

"With such a network it becomes quicker to walk between locations making travel by foot an attractive alternative to a short drive. While ambitious, for a city of iconic bridges the principle is in keeping with the local dynamic."

Other suggestions include creating more detailed plans to support the Indoor Market, encouraging more use of the riverfront area for activities, events and art, with a focus on ensuring safety, as well as more street art, including parkland and public squares in new city-centre housing developments, as well as giving developers more freedom over developments on brownfield sites.

Although Mr Webb ran for the Conservatives in the 2011 Assembly Election and 2015 General Election, he has stressed the plan is written from a non-political perspective.

He has also suggested building new, small multi-storey car parks at areas where parking is particularly in demand, such as the railway station and civic centre, as well as for cycling routes to be improved, with the aim of bringing in a 'Boris bikes'-style cycle-hire scheme similar to that recently introduced in Cardiff.

Mr Webb said: "Perhaps the city which is home to the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales should also aspire to be the most lycra-clad city in Wales".

Although the plan does not include any costings, the council's own masterplan also did not specify any financial elements.

Mr Webb said: "Without access to the budget details of Newport City Council, it is impossible to fully cost proposals. Where recommendations are made, I have tried to be realistic in their ambition and pragmatic in the timescale it may take to realise them."

He added: "As one of only three large cities in Wales, Newport should be able to draw the attention of the Welsh Government with greater regularity and focus than a similarly sized city in England could attract political interest from the UK Government.

"As the Welsh city closest to London and Bristol, it should play a vital role as a gateway to the economy of Wales.

"The first city in Wales should be a landmark, while Celtic Manor Resort is an iconic feature for those entering the country, the city of Newport could do more to establish itself as a destination for visitors and investment on this basis."

Newport City Council was contacted for comment.