Five bids shortlisted for Swansea city centre redevelopment

FIVE bids to regenerate two key Swansea city centre sites have been shortlisted.

Swansea Council will now further explore the ideas put forward by the companies to have made the shortlist as the process to appoint developers for the St David’s and Civic Centre sites continues.

Both sites were first put on the marketplace at the end of January. A mixed-use leisure and retail destination is proposed for the St David’s site that would combine a new public square with shops, restaurants, a cinema and a new office development.  A multi-storey car park is being proposed for the current LC car park site that would include opportunities for commercial development.

The Civic Centre on Oystermouth Road has been recommended as the number one site of Welsh national priority status in a report produced for the Swansea Bay City Region board. Outline proposals for the site include landmark tourist developments and high quality public spaces. Swansea University is exploring the potential for a hydro hub research and development facility on the site that could include an iconic aquarium.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The availability of these two sites for regeneration is a huge opportunity for Swansea city centre. Along with our plans to transform The Kingsway into an employment district, their development will help lead to a thriving city centre where far more people work, live, shop and have fun. This will then help attract even more investment in future and cement the city centre’s role as a key driver of the Swansea Bay City Region economy as a whole.

“The amount of interest in the two sites was very encouraging and we feel the shortlist represents a good balance between regional, national and international development teams.

“The next step is to hold detailed discussions with each of the shortlisted companies and ask them to come back to us with more comprehensive plans as we look to appoint development partners by early next year.

“We’ve also had very positive feedback during consultation on the revised City Centre Strategic Framework – a document that will guide regeneration over the next decade.”

Developers are also being asked to consider the best way of linking the city to the sea. One option could be a new ‘sky path’ for pedestrians and cyclists that would cross above Oystermouth Road and link the St David’s site with the waterfront.

Swansea Council held presentations in London and Wales earlier this year to raise the profile of the development opportunities. The two sites were also heavily advertised in the specialist trade media.