A new foot and cycle bridge across the River Medina is one of the features of the Newport Harbour Masterplan.
After 2 years of consultation, the Isle of Wight Council has put forward the latest plans to redevelop the harbour and quay area in the heart of the Island’s historic county town.
Options under consideration include restaurants, housing, commercial space, new car parking, higher education resources, a rebuild of the existing Riverside Centre, a new hotel and a cultural venue.
The project is intended to increase connectivity to the existing town centre, attract visitors, and ensure the future of the harbour by providing for maintenance and investment in harbour facilities.
The new proposals are mostly on the eastern side of the estuary, keeping the Medina itself available for boats and leaving more commercial functions on the west, including the existing marine and boating activity.
The plan aims to keep and reuse buildings where possible, to help conserve and enhance the historic and marine heritage of Newport Quay.
Plans have been drawn up in the light of suggestions from harbour users, residents and businesses, and as a result the new proposals include a smaller residential area as a gateway to the green space, the chance to create places where people can both live and work, and a potential new focus on creative industries.
The proposed lifting bridge is for pedestrians and cyclists, linking Seaclose Park with destinations such as the Isle of Wight College and St Mary’s Hospital, as well as the many shops and businesses at Dodnor. This would be in addition to any possible future vehicle bridge, which is not included in this plan.
The proposals could be adopted as planning policy, which will then be the framework for development over the next 20-25 years with the first projects on the ground in the next 2 or 3 years.
Cabinet member for regeneration and business development, Councillor Wayne Whittle, said:
“Our historic county town drives the economy of the Island, and the Newport Harbour masterplan gives us a chance to see some serious investment in the future of the town.
“I’m confident these plans will be the blueprint for some exciting and innovative improvements to the whole of Newport – and I’m looking forward to seeing the new businesses and visitors arriving.”
Once again, we are putting more resources into Newport, and whilst this will certainly rejuvenate the town, it will also add to traffic flow.
Just a couple of weeks back, we had an issue with the traffic lights, and the Island was almost crippled, so come on, please consider better transport arrangements when ‘improving’ the town.
I totally agree, tho funding may probably come from increased parking charges for people visiting newport while the council planners for this suburban failure continue to get their parking for free. Isnt that ironic?
This proposal is aabsolutely…….. a great plan. Let’s hope it goes ahead.
Drop the housing, totally unnecessary
Tell that to the training NHS Nurse I have boarding at my house who has no where else to live because she gets paid a ridiculously low wage and cant afford private accommodation. ..
I have seen plans for a bridge and a Lock of some kind several years ago and plans to make the west bank a tourist area i presume similar to Camden lock ! also i remember recently there was a tower like the Chard or mabee smaller proposed for the East bank. I have lived here on my floating home for 33 years ish,and have seen some slight changes for better.but there were several more businesses here in the past like the carpentry place ,now carpenters quay,and Newport motor marine, also walls ice cream depot,they were on the West side,but on the East side was British road services lorry park “now a restaurant” then there was the boat museum,now the Premier inn, then a few doors along there was a recycle place for paper, and a room or two for (quote unwanted council computers unquote )then the once again a bus museum,(mabee used now but unsure) Adjacent is the hand crane,built to last it was available to hire at low cost to launch boats but was taken out of service because of safety concerns, but all in all the harbour is mainly used by a few visiting yachtsmen,and women,but we dont see many river trip boats here any more except the Jenny boat,perhaps twice a year . The harbours natural old look is vanishing gradually,but the tourism seems to have been replaced by many happy herring gulls now here.
Do something with the old steam rail wsy station behind the bargemans rest thats be a wast of space since thw 30s
As far as I’m aware the site of the railway station and yard were redeveloped in the 1970s when Medina Way and Riverway were built. Is it the old electricity works that you are referring to? If so I agree it’s a ‘waste of space’ in many peoples’ eyes but nothing much can be done at the moment because it’s a ‘Listed Building’.
Would it not be better to sort out the road problems before adding more homes business etc. ? How are people supposed to get to these alleged new places, whilst stuck for hours in the traffic to Newport… Just think where they come from, they will land at one of the ferry ports, then have to try to get to Newport. The way the council thinks, is as if people will be dropped in by helicopter or by parachute.. Not roads that work means no people ! Then if NO JOBS no money.. so all these proposals to fill the back pockets of the council, are for mainland people, nothing for Isle of Wight Residence except higher parking cost, higher council tax !
As if they are trying to run before they can walk… Why not build up RYDE.. it has been let down for so long now. Used to be main shops in Ryde, not it is Desolate, just betting shops, second hand shops take away foods, great place for drugs and drunks.. just what tourist love to see when they get off the Catamaran eh ?
Seems the council only have tunnel vision, they see Newport, but they do not see the rest of the Island and how shabby some towns are getting, because they will not help the other towns… it is all one Island, it should be treated equal all over the Island !!
If you want to build a bridge then build one to the mainland and put those greedy ferry operates out of business.