Town branding to launch in April 2025

An update on Newtown's town branding project is set to be presented to town councillors next week, revealing plans to launch in April 2025.

Town councillors will next week discuss a report which sets out the progress of the Newtown town branding project.

According to the updated report, the branding is expected to launch on the same date as the 2025 Celebration of Newtown awards, provisionally booked to be held on 10 April 2024 at Theatre Hafren.

A soft launch has been proposed to take place in the town centre on the same date.

The report also adds that tenders have been issue for a new website to support the branding, along with event banners and marketing materials created.

The town branding project, initiated in 2002, has incurred costs exceeding £24,000. The process has faced various challenges, with town councillors voting back in May 2022 to keep the branding details confidential over concerns of jeopardising the launch.

The project traces back to 2018 and gained momentum when external consultants, Heavenly based in Cardiff, were tasked with crafting a new brand for Newtown. Following extensive stakeholder interactions, the consultants recommended an option to the officers.

By June 2022, progress was reported with the development of a new marketing plan, brand identity, and website for Newtown anticipated to debut in the autumn. In August 2022, an advisory group was established by the town council to engage third parties in contributing to the branding process.

In September 2022, it was disclosed that the council made an additional payment of £2,500 to Heavenly for an extra briefing paper following a freedom of information request