A NEW vision for Newport was unveiled last night, as consultants put forward a masterplan for reshaping the city.

The radical, multi-million pound scheme aims to bring new housing, people, shops and a better, bolder image to Newport.

The Newport Unlimited masterplan, created by the city's regeneration company, was displayed to 'stakeholders' in the plan - the businesses, community representatives and local services who will be affected - who were then asked for their opinions on the key ideas.

Roger Kallman, the director of consultants SOM, outlined some of the key projects, including:

Revitalising the Crindau area and the train station district. A focus on the strengths of the river Usk. Ideas include bankside promenades and river taxis. Reworking of city centre roads and integrating all forms of transport. This incl-udes extra cycle lanes, pedestrian access, improved parking and a possible integrated bus and train station.

The train station could be moved westwards or given a facelift.

Proposals for a new £110m shopping district to replace the Kingsway Centre and John Frost Square, and a city centre university campus, have already been revealed.

The consultants, who are overseen by regeneration group Newport Unlimited, say that if the money can be found from public and private sources, there is no reason why the vision cannot become reality. Mr Kallman said: "There hasn't been a vision for what the city centre could become.

"This Masterplan gives investors the confidence that there's a plan the city is working to."

Stakeholders at the meeting, at the Newport City Live Arena, were told that revitalising both banks of the Usk in the city centre was a major part of the plan.

A draft version of the masterplan will go on public display next month before being presented to the council.

The plan is broken into five years chunks. 2020 seems a long way off, but Mr Kallman promised "early wins" on projects that will be completed within a few years.

This time next year, he said, work on the Kingsway centre, John Frost Square, and open spaces should have started, and he expects there will be "activity" around the station.

He added: "These are early wins. People don't want to wait for years to see changes."