Newport city centre

The streets were laid-out in 1807 by Sir Charles Morgan's Tredegar Wharf Company to connect the expanding docks with the main roads in the centre.

On the removal of the railway lines and wharves in the 1960s the large John Frost Square (1977) and Kingsway Shopping Centre were built, close to Newport bus station.

This area has been redeveloped to provide the Friars Walk shopping and leisure complex which was opened in November 2015.

On Upper Dock Street is the Chartist Tower, a 15-storey office block, built in 1966 and the tallest building in Newport.

During the 2014 NATO summit a security forces command and control team was housed temporarily in the building, with the top floor and roof being used as an observation post.

In 2014 Admiral Insurance opened a large newly constructed office opposite Newport railway station.

The protracted development of Friars Walk was also cited as a reason for high street stores, such as Marks and Spencer, leaving the city centre during the 2010s.

It offers a range of high street and privately owned shops, adjoining Newport Museum, Art Gallery and Central Library.