Chartist Tower

Chartist Tower is a 53.3 metre tall[1] high rise building in west Newport, Wales. It was built in 1966, and is the tallest building in the city.[2]

Chartist Tower
Chartist Tower from behind Friar's Walk
Location within Wales
General information
StatusCompleted (under renovation)
TypeHigh-rise building
Town or cityNewport
CountryWales
Coordinates51.5872845°N 2.9950542°W / 51.5872845; -2.9950542
Completed1966
Renovated2019
OwnerGarrison Barclay Estates
Height53.30 m
Technical details
Floor count16
Design and construction
ArchitectPowell Dobson Architects (redevelopment)

Background

A 250-year long lease was acquired in 2017 by Cardiff-based developers Garrison Barclay Estates (GBE) for £6.5m,[3] and the building is now undergoing a £12m redevelopment.[4] It has received investment from the Welsh Government of loans up to £2 million.

The building is located on Upper Dock Street. The building is accessible from both sides, at its front via the newly built Friars Walk shopping centre as well as at the rear via the historic retail hub in the city, Commercial Street.

The building is expected to re-open following refurbishment by Summer 2019.


Etymology
Main article: Chartism

The building is a tribute to the participants of the 1839 Newport Rising, a key moment in the Chartist political movement. The Newport uprising was a key turning point in the campaign for universal suffrage.

Main article: Newport Rising

Led by John Frost, after whom John Frost Square is named, the protest saw nearly 10,000 men from the Newport area storm the Westgate Hotel. It was on that site that a group of men were supposedly imprisoned, with the protesters' anger rising following the imprisonment of leader Henry Vincent on 2 August, and the rejection of the People's Charter of 1838 by Parliament.

The protest led to 26 deaths, including 22 Chartists, with 200 men later arrested by authorities for their involvement. Leaders John Frost, Zephaniah Williams, and William Jones were sentenced to be hung, drawn, and quartered, though the protest led to wider protests across the UK. Facing national pressure, the Lord Chief Justice eventually lobbied the Home Secretary to commute the sentences. Frost, Williams, and Jones were instead sent to Australia, punished with transportation for life. Only Frost eventually returned.

Developers GBE have indicated the building will continue to pay tribute to the 1839 events, with features in the redevelopment referencing the movement and its significance to the city.[5]

Redevelopment
Chartist Tower visible behind the Newport City Footbridge, foreground


In September 2018, developers GBE submitted their application for change of use of the Tower to "part hotel, ancillary facilities (gym, conference space, storage space, offices & restaurant) and ground floor coffee shop".

The application further includes "office floor space [...] a restaurant [...] and external alterations to the facade of Chartist Tower [...] and to the retail units fronting Upper Dock Street, Austin Friars (former Units 1-7 & 12-13) and Commercial Street (the former BHS)".[6]

Planning permission was approved on the 7th February 2019.[7]

Media reports have suggested the upper floor space will be let to the Mercure hotel chain,[8] with other 3-4 chain names in discussions, including the Celtic Manor.[9] The site has space for between 120 and 160 bedrooms on site, depending on the developer. There is approximately 30,000 sq. ft of office space and 18,000 sq. ft of ground floor retail space.[4]

Powell Dobson Architects have been appointed to act on the redevelopment, with Bristol based Hydrock providing design consultancy. Cardiff's architectural and interior design practice The IAD Company were appointed as interior designers for the project.[10]

In April 2019 it was announced that the Welsh Government had awarded the project up to £2 million in Visit Wales and Targeted Regeneration Investment programme loans, with the Deputy Ministers for both Housing and Local Government; as well as Culture, Tourism and Sport, affirming their commitment to the project.[11]

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See also

References
  1. "Chartist Tower, Newport | 213149 | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  2. "Newport | Buildings | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  3. Barry, Sion (2017-12-21). "The tallest building in Newport acquired in a multi-million pound deal". walesonline. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  4. "Ambitious plans to transform Newport high-rise into hotel set for green light". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  5. Ltd, Insider Media. "Planning approval for Chartist Tower redevelopment". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  6. ""05280139"" (PDF). Newport City Council (Application for approval of details reserved by condition. Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). 18 September 2018.
  7. "Newport City Council - Planning Online". planning.newport.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  8. Barry, Sion (2018-05-22). "Four star hotel operator revealed for tallest building in Newport". walesonline. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  9. "First artist impressions released for Newport's Chartist Tower". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  10. "Building services appointment on Chartist Tower in Newport • Hydrock". www.hydrock.com. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
  11. "£2 million to help transform the Chartist Tower into a high quality hotel development - Welsh Government". gov.wales. Retrieved 2019-04-29.}
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