‘Team Swansea’ to deliver multi-billion pound regeneration

SWANSEA will be undergoing its biggest transformation since World War Two by the time the next Rugby World Cup comes along.

City leaders outlined the scale of change and ambition heading Swansea’s way in a Changing Horizons morning of presentations at Meridian Quay.

Representatives of Swansea Council, Swansea BID (Business Improvement District), Swansea University, the University of Wales Trinity St David, Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board were among those who updated scores of city centre businesses on their visions.

Cllr Rob Stewart said one or more development partners will be appointed to lead the regeneration of the Civic Centre and St David’s sites by the end of the year. He also said he expects the new schemes to be operational by early 2020. A new city beach, he says, could be introduced as part of a world class regeneration of the Civic Centre site that could also include housing, retail and leisure uses.

Cllr Stewart said: “The landscape of Swansea will change beyond all recognition in the next three to four years. It will probably be the biggest change to our city since the Second World War.

“When you look at social media, the three main things that crop up about Swansea are High Street, St David’s and Kingsway – but the good news is that we’re tackling all three. A developer for a mixed-use scheme for St David’s will be on board by the end of the year, Coastal Housing is doing great things on High Street and we’ve announced plans to transform Kingsway into a business district. We’re also working closely in partnership with developers and Network Rail to bring about a regeneration scheme on Mariner Street.”

Professor Iwan Davies, Swansea University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, spoke about the new bay campus off Fabian Way – the largest knowledge economy project in Europe, he said. Professor Davies also spoke about the potential to introduce new aquatic facilities on the current Civic Centre site that would further strengthen the university’s reputation for innovation and excellence in marine life research.

The Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project is also making progress, according to project direct Ioan Jenkins. He said he’s hoping Natural Resources Wales will be granting the project a marine licence within weeks and that Contract for Difference negotiations with Westminster are on-going. The project, he says, isn’t just about low carbon energy production – it’s also about an opportunity to generate local jobs, host triathlon sports, construct a visitor centre and re-introduce oysters to the bay. Swansea, he said, is a “great place to do business”. He also said the company is “chomping at the bit” to start work and that similar projects could follow elsewhere in the UK, as well as in China, South Korea, Mexico, India, Canada and the USA.

Gwyndaf Tobias, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wales Trinity St David, outlined their proposals for a new campus in SA1 that have now been submitted to Swansea Council for planning approval. This scheme, he said, has the potential to help replicate the feel and vibrancy of Cardiff Bay.

Juliet Luporini, Chair of Swansea BID, was also on hand to speak about the organisation’s success over the last decade. One of its success stories, she said, was the removal of more than two million pieces of chewing gum from city streets – a scheme that’s generated interest as far afield as Norway.

Andrew Davies, Chair of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, and Professor Marc Clement, of Swansea University, gave an update on the ARCH project, which is seeing health and science working together to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of the people of South West Wales.

Professor Iwan Davies said the combination of all the projects meant “something special is happening under our noses” in Swansea. Mal Pope, who compered the event, described it as a “golden time” for Swansea.

Cllr Stewart said: “We’re determined to seize this golden moment and will do it by developing a team Swansea approach alongside our partners. The combination of projects already agreed will lead to investment worth billions of pounds but we’re already looking to apply for a City Deal that would take Swansea to the next level.”

Santander, the Quadrant Shopping Centre, Marks and Spencer, Boots and Debenhams were among the city centre businesses represented at the presentations.

James Loxdale, Manager of Debenhams in Swansea, said the presentations were “inspirational” and that Swansea has an exciting future in store.