Newport city centre Among other units, it houses one of the city's Wetherspoon's public houses, the John Wallace Linton. A planning application by Holder Mathias Architects was approved in 2007 by Newport City Council for an £87 million redevelopment and refurbishment to be known as City Spires but it was mothballed in 2008 before construction started. An alternative redevelopment plan was started in 2012. The first phase of development, Admiral House, was opened in 2014. Newport city centre Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport, Wales bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge,
Newport City Council place every four years. The last election was 4 May 2017. In March 2017 a new political party, the Newport Independents Party, was formed to field candidates in the May 2017 election. It won four seats. Re-elected councillors in bold Newport is an ancient mesne borough, occupying an important position on the Welsh Marches. The town grew up round the castle built early in the 12th century. Giraldus Cambrensis, writing in 1187, calls it "Novus Burgus", probably to distinguish it from Caerleon, whose prosperity declined as that of Newport increased. The first lord was Robert Fitzhamon, who died in 1107,