John Frost Square in Newport plans go on display

A developer for John Frost Square is set to be named by the end of July 2011

Plans for the transformation of part of Newport city centre go on display later.

Developers have five more days to register an interest in taking on the multi-million pound scheme planned for John Frost Square.

A £200m scheme for a shopping centre was scrapped last year after developers pulled out.

The council said they were "simple and modern" plans for the square where the Ryder Cup was shown on a giant screen.

Council leader Matthew Evans said: "The exhibition is the chance for people to see the kind of quality, high-end shopping scheme we would like in Newport.

"We want a vibrant development to entice people back to shop in the city and for major retailers to have a presence in the heart of the city.

"Visitors to the exhibition will see what we are aiming for and hopefully be encouraged and see that we are pulling out all the stops to attract a developer.

"The people of Newport have been waiting a long time for this and we hope to make it a reality soon."

The exhibition will have council officers on hand as well as staff from Newport Unlimited, the urban redevelopment company for the city.

Developers approved by the council will be invited to tender at the end of January with a preferred developer expected to be named by July 2011.

John Frost Square is named after John Frost, leader of the Chartist uprising in Newport of 1839 who was transported to what is now Tasmania.

He was later pardoned and returned to Britain but continued to write on the unfairness of the Britain's government system.

The plans are on display at Newport Indoor Market from 1100 GMT to 1500 GMT on Wednesday.