Shadow bids submitted for city centre development sites

INITIAL designs and technical drawings have now been submitted by regeneration specialists competing for the chance to transform Swansea city centre.

The confidential detailed documentation currently being considered forms part of shadow bids each shortlisted developer has put together for the Civic Centre and St David’s sites.

Swansea Council will now hold further discussions with each shortlisted developer to inform the submission of final bids in September.

Comprehensive consideration of final bids will then take place before the appointment one or more development partners by the end of the year.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “I know people are keen to see the new city centre proposals, but what’s been submitted is confidential at this stage because we’re still in discussions with the shortlisted developers and no decisions have been made. We’re making considerable progress, though, and are still on track to appoint one or more development partners by the end of November whose ideas we feel best meet our aspirations and build on Swansea’s unique character.

“It’s not just the schemes being proposed that are impressive and exciting. Some of the retailers and well-known brands that could potentially be moving to Swansea city centre under the proposals being put forward aren’t anywhere outside London at the moment. This is particularly encouraging because it could strengthen Swansea’s reputation for uniqueness and help our city centre stand out from the crowd.

“Next year, once the developer appointment process is complete, we’ll be in a position to start sharing plans with the public and will allow plenty of opportunities for feedback.  A thriving Swansea city centre isn’t just important for Swansea – it has a key role to play at the heart of the Swansea Bay City Region economy, too.”

A mixed-use development is being proposed for the St David’s site that could include retail, leisure and office space. Outline proposals for the Civic Centre site, which has been recommended as the number one site of Welsh national priority status in a report produced for the Swansea Bay City Region board, include landmark tourist developments and high quality public spaces.

Developers are also being asked how they’d best go about innovatively linking both sites.

The shortlisted bids Swansea Council will consider include a submission from Bellerophon, who are heading up a consortium bid including M&G (Prudential), Dawnus Construction and SSE & Apollo (IMAX). Bids from Queensberry Real Estate, Rightacre/Exemplar, Rivington Land and Acme, and Trebor Developments will also be considered.