University of Wales, Newport still demanded more evidence before committing to further talks and in November 2012, Leighton Andrews withdrew a consultation on plans to force a merger. The University opened a new £35 million campus in Newport's City Centre formally on 10 January 2011. The project was a collaboration between the University, Newport City Council and the Welsh Assembly Government operating through Newport Unlimited, the urban regeneration company for the City. The campus is situated on the east bank of the River Usk in the City Centre and it was the first phase of an intended £50m development for the University. It housed
Newport Independents Party Council on 4 May 2017: Kevin Whitehead, Janet Cleverly and Jason Jordan won seats in the Bettws ward and one candidate - Chris Evans - was successful in Rogerstone. Newport Independents Party The Newport Independents Party (Welsh: "Plaid Annibynwyr Casnewydd") is a small political party formed in 2017 to campaign in the city of Newport, Wales. The party won four council seats on Newport City Council in May 2017. The Newport Independents Party was registered with the Electoral Commission in March 2017 by its founder, Councillor Kevin Whitehead. It aimed to break the "stale national party politics" in the city.