Demand for university places at Newport is increasing

A huge new campus on a site outside Newport, was being considered.

But the University of Wales, Newport has announced it will now build a site to house art, media and design schools on the banks of the River Usk.

The university will retain its two campuses at Allt-yr-Yn in Newport and in Caerleon.

The plans were finalised at a meeting of the university's board on Monday.

Afterwards, Professor James Lusty, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales, Newport, said: "We have given careful consideration to all options for building a new campus.

This welcome move will help in the creation of an education and arts district. Graham Moore, Newport Unlimited

"Given our mission as a community university, financial considerations and planning uncertainty associated with other alternatives, our best option is to retain our two campuses and build an additional one in the city centre along the banks of the river Usk.

The new campus will initially house the Newport School of Art, Media and design which is rapidly expanding and needs considerably more space than it currently has at the Caerleon campus, said Professor Lusty.

The university has been working closed with Newport City Council and Newport Unlimited in exploring options for development.

Newport Unlimited chief executive Graham Moore said:" Increasing the presence of the university in the city centre is a priority in our central area master plan.

"This welcome move will help in the creation of an education and arts district."

He said more students in the city centre throughout the day and evening and an increased resident population will help bring an innovative edge to the city centre.

It would also support the wider regeneration plans to provide a greater mix of cafes, pubs and restaurants.

The new campus should be open in 2008.

The earlier plan had envisaged a one-site university on 410 acres at Caerleon Park, including a fully-integrated research-based business park, and bring the prospect of thousands of jobs.