REDEVELOPMENT of the area surrounding Admiral’s new offices next to the station in Newport is set to continue, with a planning application for a further 30,000 square feet of office development due.

Property developer Scarborough Group is building a £30 million development at Station Quarter incorporating shops, offices and a new gym which opened this month after the Gym Group signed a 15-year lease on a 15,000 square feet unit.

The developer achieved planning consent in April 2012 for the first phase of the Station Quarter, its redevelopment of the former Cambrian Centre. This phase comprised office accommodation with the capacity to accommodate up to 1,200 staff, designed for Admiral, and 28,000 square feet of retail and leisure space, parking for 290 cars and a new public plaza.

Now the second phase will comprise a further 30,000 square feet of office development with leisure and retail premises on the ground floor and facing the plaza.

Scarborough will be submitting a planning permission for this next phase towards the end of 2015.

A spokesman for Scarborough said: “ Scarborough has also created a high-quality public plaza to complement the existing retail and office space, which will provide a much improved pedestrian gateway from the train station to the city centre. The plaza opened to the public in June, and a formal opening ceremony will be held in August.”

Kate Howe, Associate Director, Scarborough Group, said: “This new letting and the creation of the public plaza demonstrates our commitment to the on-going transformation of the centre in Newport. Following the success of Admiral House and the severe shortage of quality office stock we are confident that there is demand for a high-quality office lead scheme in Newport.

“Newport City Council has continued to support our plans for the redevelopment of the Station Quarter which is further testament to the quality and importance of this scheme for Newport.”