By Robin Hall, managing director, Kymin, Bridge Street, Newport

Well, what a year it has been for Newport.

I think 2015 will go down in history books as a pivotal year for the city.

Newport is definitely on the up. We have seen massive investment over the past few years with the likes of the new railway station, the university city campus, Admiral building and Friars Walk to name but a few.

The two major events that have happened at the Celtic Manor Resort over the past few years, the Ryder Cup in 2010 and Nato summit in 2014, have put Newport on the map both nationally and internationally.

There are a number of other projects in the process of being completed such as Kings Court Apartments and Premier Inn in High Street and development of the former passport office in Dock Street into both residential, retail and leisure units.

Friars Walk is already making a huge difference to the city.

The 390,000sq ft development has 35 retail units and 11 restaurants as well as an eight-screen cinema.

It attracted 102,000 people on the first day and 350,000 shoppers in the first weekend.

At long last we have some national chains such as Debenhams, Jack & Jones and H&M as well as Next and M&S Food returning to the centre. More chains are due to open there in the new year including Vodafone, Sketchers and Holland and Barrett.

The restaurant area includes Le Bistrot Pierre, Prezzo and TGI Friday and from personal experience over the last few weeks they all always seem to be busy.

I am convinced that this will have a knock-on effect to encourage more retailers back into the city with HMV re-opening in Dock Street in the new year as an example.

Also other existing retailers may consider larger premises if the encouraging visitor numbers and footfall can be sustained.

We cannot forget the other shopping areas of Commercial Street, High Street and Newport Arcade though.

This is where the mainly independent traders are and we must all support these businesses as much as we can.

Tiny Rebel Brewery’s Urban Tap House along with a number of other independent bars and restaurants have recently opened in High Street and with the Premier Inn and Kings Court opening next year this will further improve the area.

Some retailers have moved from these areas to Friars Walk, which was inevitable.

Landlords and Newport City Council must act now to encourage new businesses back into these areas.

The Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Programme awarded nearly £15m for the refurbishment of some key properties in the city centre. These are being transformed into new homes and areas for business start-ups.

All of this will help Newport become a destination for shoppers once again taking us from number 198 to being in the top 100 shopping destinations in the UK.

This will obviously benefit the new businesses but also local pubs, restaurants and existing retailers. We can’t and shouldn’t try and compete with the likes of Cardiff and Bristol, but Friars Walk will encourage many Newport residents and those from further afield to try Newport once again.

Does the fact the Cardiff’s St David’s Shopping Centre has been advertising on the front of the South Wales Argus and Hereford on the side of Newport’s buses mean that these centres are already feeling the pinch? Who knows?

Looking forward to 2016, the 60-bed Premier Inn at the top of High Street is set to open on June 13.

Work should start on the new Wales International Convention Centre at the Celtic Manor Resort. This will be yet another major boost for the local economy with a capacity for 4,000 delegates. The centre will bring many thousands of visitors to the area per year once it is completed in 2019.

Plans for the next phase of Newport’s Station Quarter recently went on show with space for restaurant, café and retail use with up to 40,000 sq ft of office space on five floors above.

Also, the 5.5 acre former Sainsbury’s supermarket site is also to be re-developed into a 601 bed student village, 144 homes and an 84 bedroom 4-star hotel.

Further retail offerings will, I am sure, follow in the new year too which will mean that Newport will be attracting many more visitors in years to come.

Only last week it was announced that there was a four per cent increase in passenger numbers using Newport Central Railway Station in 2014-2015 compared to 2013-2014.

The proposed £4bn Cardiff and South East Wales Metro scheme is an interesting one.

This will see 'potentially transformational' improvements to bus and rail links for the region with £62mn due to be spent over the next three years.

A new Newport Bus Rapid Transit busway is likely to feature early on in the project which would link the city centre and railway stations with Celtic Manor and the Royal Gwent Hospital.

I look forward to 2016 with increased confidence not only for Kymin but Newport as a whole. All business large and small, national companies and independent traders, Newport City Council, Newport Business Improvement District and all the residents of Newport have a part to play in the continued rise in the fortunes of our city. These new developments including retail and leisure along with much needed modern office space will help with Newport’s wider regeneration and continue to support its economic growth. We now have the beginning of a city that we can all be proud of.

A very Merry Christmas from all at Kymin and looking forward to a prosperous 2016.