Sports Direct will be opening its new Newport city centre store in April with the news that it has taken over the former Marks and Spencer store in Commercial Street, part of which is in Olympia House.

The Argus reported last week at the sports clothing store had taken 23,000 sq ft in Olympia House, in a deal with Castleton-based Richard Hayward Properties and The Tonstate Group which is seen as one of the most significant retail lettings in Newport’s recent history.

Richard Hayward Properties, which is carrying out the redevelopment of Olympia House, has confirmed that the letting is actually for the store facing Commercial Street and not the former Passport Office, which was accessed from Upper Dock Street.

Sports Direct would make no comment over the future of the Megabowl site at Spytty, which has recently been granted planning permission for part of the site as a retail unit and a gym following a planning appeal lodged by Sports Direct and the site’s owners, Johnsey Estates. They would also not comment on the future of the existing Sports Direct branch at Spytty or whether the city centre store would be retail and a gym or purely retail.

A spokesperson for Johnsey Estates has said it would continue to explore all opportunities for the former Megabowl site, which is on Newport Retail Park on the east side of the city.

Sports Direct has signed a 50-year agreement for the city centre site with the joint venture partnership.

The Tonstate Group and Richard Hayward Properties have already started enabling work on the redevelopment of the 90,000 sq ft Olympia House, ahead of submitting a planning application in coming weeks.

The partners are currently finalising plans to transform the nine-storey building into residential units for private rental, with commercial uses on the lower levels.

Principal of RHP, Richard Hayward said: “This is a very significant signing not just for the JV but for everyone who lives, works and enjoys Newport city centre. It shows our commitment to revitalising Newport by bringing a strong retailer which will bring vibrancy into the city.

"This deal, together with the opening of Friars Walk shopping centre later this year, will help to put the city back on the shopping map and complement the other regeneration schemes recently completed and currently under way.”

These include RHP’s redevelopment of the old Yates Wine Lodge building into a new 60-bed Premier Inn. Planning consent was granted by Newport City Council two days before Christmas, and Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, gave conservation approval to the work last month.

Sports Direct is the UK's largest sporting retailer, and operates more than 500 stores worldwide. The company owns a large number of sporting brands, and other retailers owned by the company include USC and Lillywhites.