QUESTIONS have been raised over the University of South Wales’ involvement in the development of a ‘knowledge quarter’ in Newport, after it announced new projects would be paused due to the impact of coronavirus.

The £60 million knowledge quarter plan was unveiled in 2016 and involves a collaboration between Newport City Council, University of South Wales (USW) and Coleg Gwent.

It was listed as a ‘key project’ in Newport City Council’s 2018 city centre masterplan, with the scheme intended to bring “new education facilities along the riverbank”.

The plan involved the relocation of Coleg Gwent’s Nash Road site to the city centre and the “creation of shared facilities to enhance learning and progression to university study”.

Newport City Council has said it is working with Coleg Gwent - and Welsh Government - on a proposed city centre college campus after it lodged plans for a new development on land at Usk Way next to the university.

But questions have been raised over USW’s involvement in the knowledge quarter project.

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Dr Mike Hamilton, a former lecturer at the university and Liberal Democrat candidate for Newport East in the Senedd election, said: “We are hugely concerned about the lack of involvement from the University of South Wales.

“They promised commitment to Newport when they closed Caerleon Campus.

“That was a Welsh Labour decision that damaged Newport’s reputation as a learning city.”

Cllr Matthew Evans, Newport council’s Conservative group leader, said the university appears to be “backtracking on their promises” to invest and expand in the city centre.

“It’s a bit late to start blaming coronavirus because if they had really wanted to do it they would have done it by now” he said.

“They need to revisit it urgently because we were promised a long term commitment to the city centre.”

USW said it is “pausing” investments and development projects following the impact of coronavirus on the sector.

A spokesman said: “The university remains committed to our campus in Newport and continues to work closely with our partners in Newport, including the council and Coleg Gwent.

“The university sector, like most sectors, is facing challenging times as we look to manage the impact of Covid-19, with lost income and the possibility of student numbers decreasing.

“No university knows exactly how this will affect them, and nor does USW.

“That is why we have put plans in place to ensure that we can maintain a sound financial footing which include pausing capital investments and development projects until the situation becomes clearer.”

A spokeswoman for Newport council said: “Newport City Council and Coleg Gwent have been working closely together - and with Welsh Government - on a proposed city centre campus.

“This would be a £90-million investment that would potentially bring hundreds of students and staff into the city centre.”