Newtown moves forward as a Smart Town

Newtown Town Council is preparing to review a comprehensive Digital Place Plan next week that maps out how the town can further develop its "smart town" capabilities.

The report, prepared by Owen Davies Consulting for Powys County Council with UK Shared Prosperity Fund support, assesses Newtown's current digital infrastructure and proposes several initiatives to maximise recent technology investments.

According to the document, Newtown is in the early stages of its smart town journey, but already has the most basic digital building blocks in place. It states the town benefits from excellent broadband connectivity, with 70% of properties able to access gigabit speeds, strong 4G mobile coverage, and 5G availability in the town centre on the EE and Three networks.

The plan highlights the recently installed town centre public Wi-Fi scheme, implemented through Powys County Council funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in late 2024, as a key component of the digital infrastructure. 

The Wi-Fi network incorporates footfall counters that collect data on visitor numbers, dwell times, and movement patterns.

Five main proposals are outlined in the Digital Place Plan are expanding digital infrastructure for public use, developing a centralised digital hub for town information, enhancing smart active travel networks, implementing smart town centre management through IoT sensors, and promoting digital skills among residents and businesses.

The report positions the Digital Place Plan as building upon Newtown's existing placemaking plans and recent digital investments, with the objective of creating "a more vibrant, connected, and resilient Newtown that benefits its residents, businesses, and visitors alike."

The document will be discussed at the upcoming Town Council meeting as Newtown continues its digital transformation journey.