Huge Newport office site earmarked as riverside wedding venue

A former office building with views of Newport ’s iconic Transporter Bridge could be converted into a venue for weddings and other events. The 24,729 sq ft site on the banks of the River Usk once served the Orb steelworks but has been empty for more than five years, according to planning documents. The firm behind the plans, Starburst (UK) Ltd, has applied to Newport council for a change of use which would see the building's interior transformed to create a large hall or auditorium, meeting spaces, breakout rooms, and a kitchen for catering. The building, off Esperanto Way near the Transporter Bridge’s eastern side, already has a 220-space car park which would be kept for staff and guests. It is expected events would be allowed to continue until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends. The applicant's planning agent, Asbri, said the venue would meet an “increasing demand for modern events facilities within the region”. According to Asbri the building was marketed for office use for at least a year after it shut down following the closure of the Orb steelworks. Despite “continuous" marketing there was "no interest" in taking it on as an office. The agent said the redevelopment into an events space would have “a positive impact for the community in terms of employment, leisure, business, and social opportunities”. The application is out for public consultation and can be viewed on the Newport council website under planning reference 26/0216. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice .