Businesses and residents are being encouraged to give their views on the future of Newport Harbour and its surrounding area. Consultation meetings held by Isle of Wight Council are showcasing the plans to transform the harbour into a lively, well-designed and sustainable mixed-use location, close to Newport town centre and sympathetic to the harbour’s character and activities. Options up for discussion include creating jobs and employment opportunities; temporary and permanent activities to increase visitor numbers by land and boat; a harbour loop with a possible pedestrian and cycle bridge; and well-designed, mixed tenure (including affordable) new homes.
The Isle of Wight Council’s assistant director of regeneration, Reniera O’Donnell, said: “We hope to identify types of development, potential new businesses, types of housing, how paths will be laid out, the approach to pedestrian and vehicle movement, greenspace, access to the water, the historic environment – the whole way we envisage the future layout of Newport Harbour. With the help of Newport residents and our Shaping Newport partners, the masterplan will create a story around our hopes and wishes for the harbour, so we can get the right people to come and invest in making it come to life.”
