The announcement of planning permission approval from the Friar’s Walk development coming just a matter of days after the city of Newport celebrated 10 years as a city is a very welcome birthday present.

The one hundred million pound retail scheme for the heart of Newport has the real potential to transform the face of the city and the fortunes of its people.

The confirmation that Debenhams is to be the anchor store for the scheme is also very welcome news and may well act as a catalyst to others to come to Newport, to some to come back to the city and to others to consider their possible move away from the centre. More good news will surely  filter through when national operators sign on to the scheme . We have much to look forward to when the scheme is completed in 2015.

To get an idea of the kind of work the prospective developer of the centre of Newport has been involved in recent years one only has to look Queensbury’s schemes in Bath or indeed Belfast where the developer has been involved in major projects.

So with this scheme poised to get started the other major blue chip development in the centre of the city, Admiral,  in the wings it could be said that Newport is riding on the crest of a wave or at least about to get launched.

The sooner these schemes get started the better as with a fairly long lead in time until completion.

And confidence created by the Friar's Walk scheme could filter out into other areas of the city and centre on sites such as the former Sainsbury plot at Crindau. This high profile site  is ripe for sensitive redevelopment a change in the economy and earth works starting for the Friar’s Walk scheme and Admiral could help push this one up the development priority for its owners.

Recent and renewed interest on the borders of the city at Cleppa Park and Celtic Springs  also presents grounds for optimism

There has been a recent acquisition on Cleppa Park, believed to be sold to Welsh Water and  keen interest on Celtic Springs Business Park both on a vacant retail unit and also for offices which is also good news .

Now what we need is for Newport County to triumph in the FA Trophy at Wembley in May and with it a good injection of feel good factor and the fortunes of the city really can be said to be changing for the better.