Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb MP, was impressed with the progress of Queensberry Real Estate’s Friars Walk development following a recent visit to the site.
Mr Crabb visited the 390,000 sq ft Newport shopping centre with Chief Executive of UK Trade, Dominic Jeremy, to hear the latest news about the scheme, which is part of wider regeneration plans for the city.
They were joined by Leader of Newport City Council, Cllr Bob Bright, Chief Executive Will Godfrey, Senior Development Manager at Queensberry Real Estate, Martin Tresidder and Senior Project Manager Tony Rides of Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd.
The Secretary of State said; “It was great to visit the impressive Friars Walk site in Newport today, which is looking in great shape.
“When it opens next year, I am sure it will help boost the local economy and help create more jobs and opportunities for people living in the local area.”
Dominic Jeremy was equally impressed with the progress he witnessed. “It’s fantastic to see this new retail and leisure development at Friars Walk gathering pace, right at the heart of Newport City Centre,” he said.
“This is part of Newport’s transformation into a digital, modern city, up with the best places in the UK to live.”
Cllr Bright was pleased to welcome the visitors to Newport where around £250 million is being invested in a variety of regeneration projects.
Martin Tresidde said the visit was a great opportunity to demonstrate the progress Queensberry Real Estate has made since taking over the site in March of this year.
“We are constructing all buildings across the site simultaneously with the roofing works already happening on our anchor store Debenhams,” he explained.
“We have an impressive list of confirmed tenants and are sure that the Friars Walk development will be the first class retail and leisure scheme Newport deserves.”
Friars Walk, which is scheduled to open in November 2015, is 60 per cent pre-let with names such as Next, H&M, Nando’s and Cineworld already on board.
The photograph shows Dominic Jeremy, Cllr Bob Bright, Stephen Crabb MP, Martin Tresidder, Will Godfrey and Tony Rides at the Friars Walk site.
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