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businessupdate News…


in association with


Tuesday June 19, 2012


Newport talking


By Bill Mayne, chair,


Newport Unlimited


When Newport Unlimited meets with potential investors, one of the first things they ask about is Newport’s links to the rest of the UK and how easy it is to access markets from the city. This is one of


Clarence House in Newport


Agentsuccessfully solicitsnewtenant C


ity Legal has taken space at Newport city centre’s iconic Clarence House. Acting on behalf ofCNC Investments agents Hutchings


&Thomas negotiated aletting of part of the seventh Floor of Clarence House, Clarence Place, Newport. The letting, to established Newport


legal practice City Legal, is on aheadline rental of £10.00 per sq ft per annum. Landlord,CNCInvestments, has


carried out some bespoke fit out works for the office space which commands uninterrupted views of the city of Newport the River Usk and the surrounding area. Haydn Thomas, of Hutchings &


Thomas, said “We were delighted to attract


City Legal to the building. “It is our client CNC’s flexibility and


willingness to carry out works to occupier requirements which has given us areal and tangible advantage in the current challenging market when looking to attract potential occupiers to Clarence House. “We are pleased to welcome


established legal practice as atenant within the landmark building to add to the list of national occupiers the premises has attracted. “With the recent refurbishment and


ongoing improvements to Clarence House we’re hopeful of securing similar lettings in due course.” Phillip Barnett, managing partner of


City Legal, who relocated from another part


One Gold Tops Newport NP20 4PG


T: 01633 844141 W: www.newportunlimited.co.uk/


Pensions seminar Following the success of its inaugural seminar on the subject at the city’s university campus, Newport-based Kymin Corporate is to stage another auto enrolment and employee benefits seminar at the University of Wales, Newport’s City Campus, on Thursday, July 12, starting at 9.30am. To register either email corporate@kymin.co.uk or call 01633 840000.


views over Newport, the Bristol Channel and the surrounding area, offers atotal of 100,000 sq ft of modern office accommodation on 11 floors.


Matchmaking service AnewNon-Executive Director Service, TheNXD Directory, has been launched by the Institute of Directors, offeringaquick, easy, and low-cost way for companies in Newport and surrounding area to find prospective independent non-executive directors via its membership. The service has the backing of the government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which is looking to bolster resources aimed at medium-sized companies.


the reasons Newport continues to punch above its weight in terms of attracting major investment projects. In the past few years, anumber of high-profile


private sector companies have chosen to set up a base in Newport, largely drawn by the quality of the city’s road and rail links –this is one of the main reasons why the Alacrity Foundation recently chose to locate its HQ in the city centre. Newport’s reliance on its road links as a


successful business destination means that congestion on the M4 is an important issue for us. We’ve all sat in the traffic queues, frustrated and running late and, for businesses, the bottom line is that transport delays cost money. It has, therefore, got to be agood thing that the


of the city, said: “The space we’ve taken at Clarence House and the facilities, including plentiful on site car parking, is ideal and what’s more provides us with the opportunity to expand the head count of the business within the building as and when the need arises.” Justin Kingdon, ofCNCInvestments,


said: “We remain committed to maintaining Clarence House as Newport’s premier city centre office destination and City Legal’s commitment is testament of our ambitions as we continue to invest in the property.” Clarence House, which has sweeping


Welsh Government has opened the consultation on the M4 and is asking you, the people and the businesses of Newport, what you think should be done.


The consultation puts forward five options, all of


which could be considered in phases or in combination with each other: •Enhanced public transport measures •Anadditional dual carriageway to the south of Newport •Improved traffic signalling and the removal of roundabouts along the Southern Distributor Road (SDR) •The creation of fly-overs as junctions and removal of junctions along the SDR •The addition of lanes on the M4 between junctions 24 and 29, rationalisation of slip-roads at junction 25 and 26, and the building of an additional tunnel at Brynglas. Having spoken with local businesses, we


understand that early action is needed to tackle the problem and help support the local economy. Businesses need to start seeing the benefits


sooner, rather than later, and so the things that can be done now, should be done now, such as using the hard-shoulder as an extra lane, limiting access to junctions and introducing variable speed limits. In the longer term, out preferred option is arelief


road south of the city, which would take through- traffic away from Newport. The consultation closes in just over two weeks’


time on July 6and so, if you have aview on how to tackle congestion on the motorway, now is your chance to tell the Welsh Government what you think.


Newport, a smart and connectedcity. www.newportsmartandconnectedcity.co.uk


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