NEWPORT'S council chiefs gave a cautious welcome to a radical vision to transform Newport by 2020.

Cabinet members supported multi-million pound plans to regenerate the city through new services, a shopping mall, houses and a university campus.

But they called on regeneration group Newport Unlimited to provide greater clarity on what it will cost the taxpayer, and said the many projects need to be carefully prioritised.

Stewart Wild, head of planning and economic regeneration, said yesterday: "The regeneration of the city centre is fundamental to the regrowth of Newport and to changing perceptions.

"The masterplan is a broad and visionary document at this stage. Quite a lot of work needs to be done on costing the funding proposals and prioritising them."

The masterplan, produced by Newport Unlimited, has been on public display in the Kingsway Centre for locals to give their views. The council was also asked its opinion as part of the same consultation process. The city centre masterplan proposals include:

* integrating transport, reducing city centre car use and rethinking the bus and train stations.

* a huge university campus by the Usk to bring students in and boost the economy.

* replacement of the Kingsway centre and John Frost Square with a £110m mall.

* strengthening the city's links with the River Usk and building a marina at Crindau.

Mr Wild said funds available to Newport Unlimited would probably be spent within three years and that public money would not cover the first five years of the plan. More money could be found from the private sector.

And he warned that although government grants would be available, all the projects needed clearer prioritisation if funds were to be secured effectively.

Members said the masterplan must not be over reliant on roads and that "car free areas" must be preserved.

And councillors agreed retail developments outside the city centre should not be encouraged unless there was a clear need for them and no suitable city centre location.

The Cabinet also agreed the city needed to plan to capitalise on the crowd-pulling power of events such as the Ryder Cup golf tournament and National Eisteddfod, which are set to visit Newport.