WE TAKE a look at some of the major changes that are happening, or expected to happen, in Newport city centre over the coming months and years.

Final curtain for leisure and music venue

March brought the end of one of the city's most famous buildings, the Newport Centre, which closed its doors to customers for the last time.

Primarily serving as a leisure centre, it was where generations of the city's younger residents will have learned to swim and spent a big portion of their school holidays.

But the Newport Centre was also a draw for some of music's biggest names, hosting concerts for acts such as David Bowie, Genesis, and Depeche Mode.

South Wales Argus: An artist's impression of the new leisure centre in Usk Way, Newport.An artist's impression of the new leisure centre in Usk Way, Newport. (Image: Newsquest)

It is to be replaced by a new, "state-of-the-art" leisure centre a few hundred metres away, on the opposite side of Usk Way, though construction isn't likely to begin until next year and will take around 18 months.

The new centre will "provide a diverse range of sport and activities, catering for all levels of ability and all ages, and encouraging community engagement and participation", the council has said.

South Wales Argus: An artist's impression of the new Coleg Gwent building which will replace the old Newport Centre.An artist's impression of the new Coleg Gwent building which will replace the old Newport Centre.

The Newport Centre site will be demolished and eventually replaced by a seven-storey building containing a new Coleg Gwent campus, in a move that will bring students back to the city en masse for the first time since the old Caerleon Campus was shut down.

Plans for the new building also include shops, restaurants, offices and a hotel.

From Information to Innovation

The old Information Station, in Queensway, is set to become a co-working centre for tech and digital businesses.

Run by Tramshed Tech, which currently operates out of the renovated indoor market, it will be rebranded the Innovation Station and serve as a “new tech hub” for the city.

The firm said it would relocate with its existing partner, Cardiff University’s National Software Academy, to “develop further industry talent pipelines into the Welsh tech sector”.

South Wales Argus: The Information Station in Newport.The Information Station in Newport.

The Innovation Station will include a coffee shop, co-working space and private meeting rooms, and host national and international projects.

The council-run Information Station - which helps residents with things like housing and council tax benefits, business rates, social services, child protection, access to supported employment, business rates and blue badges - is now situated inside the Newport Central Library building, which was refitted a few months ago.

Boost for iconic landmark

Work is already under way on improvements to another of the city's most recognisable landmarks.

The Transporter Bridge is already one of the more famous things associated with Newport, and it is hoped a new visitor centre will bring in more tourism and make the bridge a bigger draw.

South Wales Argus: Work on the new Transporter Bridge visitor centre in Newport in February.Work on the new Transporter Bridge visitor centre in Newport in February. (Image: South Wales Argus Camera Club member Robert S Nurden)

Work began last summer on the new visitor centre, which will be built on the western riverbank on the site of the old centre, which has been knocked down.

The council had to fork out more cash last year when two contractors went into administration, pushing up prices from the original £11.9 million project outlay by another £5 million.

New port for old ship?

At the beginning of the year it was announced one of the city's oldest residents would be making a return to Newport.

The 15th-century ship which was discovered in the mud of the River Usk, 20 years ago, has undergone painstaking restoration work in the south of England, and its timbers have now been brought back to Newport, for re-assembly.

South Wales Argus: The excavation taking place in 2002. (Image: Newport Museums and Heritage Service)The excavation taking place in 2002. (Image: Newport Museums and Heritage Service)

The project has won the admiration of TV historian Dan Snow, who called the ship "unique" and urged its custodians to capitalise on its historical importance by making it a major tourist attraction.

During restorations the ship's pieces were kept at a large warehouse, but now the city council is on the lookout for a permanent new home, and said it will carry out a study to find the best place.