ONE of Newport’s oldest arcades is to get a facelift after the city council agreed £104,889 grant funding.

The grade two listed entrance to Market Arcade at 12 and 13 High Street will be restored to its former glory after falling into a state of disrepair in recent years.

Planning permission and listed building consent has been obtained to carry out restoration work to the upper floor elevation, including the replacement of some windows.

Its external facade will also be partially replaced and repaired and a ground level retail unit will be created.

The applicant has already started internal work to the property to create residential apartments on the floor above.

Symon Taw, who runs Sy’s Barbers, said he hoped this would help regenerate the arcade, which has suffered from a fall in trade in recent years.

He said: “I hope it’s a start of better things to come. This part of town has been left to rot and I hope it will bring this area back to what it used to be.”

In a report to councillors, Cllr Bill Langsford congratulated the applicant for attempting to to enhance the looks of the building, which he said had been allowed to deteriorate over a long period of time by its owners.

Councillor John Guy said the work was necessary to quick-start a restoration problem of an arcade, which had long been an eyesore at the top of High Street.

He added he hoped the other businesses would follow this example to help bring the arcade back to its former glory.

The £131,112 project is being supported by an 80 per cent grant from the Welsh Government, allocated by Newport City Council under its Civic Enhancement Scheme.

The Victorian arcade is on the council’s register of buildings at risk through neglect and decay, which identifies listed buildings deemed to be in a condition which requires improvement to ensure their continued contribution to the historic built environment in Newport.