AN ICONIC Swansea nightclub visited by millions of people over the last 50 years will soon start disappearing from the cityscape.
Swansea Council will later this month invite shortlisted contractors to submit final tenders for a scheme to demolish the former Oceana building on Kingsway.
Work on a 27-week demolition project is scheduled to start by the end of October this year. The council bought the 0.55-acre site in May as the first step of a plan aimed at transforming Kingsway into an employment district.
The building, originally constructed by the Rank Organisation in 1967 for a cinema, has accommodated a number of bars and nightclubs over the years, including Ritzy and Icon, Time and Envy, and, most recently, Oceana.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “This building will be familiar to people not just in Swansea but across South Wales as a whole because it was at the heart of the Swansea nightlife scene for so long. It’s been empty and unfit for purpose for a number of years now and much of the city’s nightlife has migrated to the Wind Street area. While Swansea’s nightlife offer is vibrant, we need to make the daytime offer vibrant, too. We’re currently holding in-depth discussions with developers shortlisted to regenerate the St David’s and Civic Centre sites, but more office developments and city centre living is also critical if we’re to generate the kind of footfall needed to support existing traders and attract new investment.
“Subject to funding, we hope the demolition of the former Oceana building will pave the way for a new office development on site to kick-start the transformation of Kingsway into an employment district. We’re also pursuing funding options to develop a green, pedestrian-friendly plaza on the road because we realise Kingsway’s look and feel needs addressing if we’re to meet the requirements of office and residential developers and generate an environment where start-up businesses can thrive.”
Swansea Council has written to businesses in the Kingsway area to keep them updated. Access to Picton Lane will be maintained throughout the demolition works and the pavement outside the former Oceana building will be open at all times in the build-up to Christmas. Major work will also be restricted to certain hours of the day to minimise the impact of noise.
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