Folly and toilet blocks sold as council makes best use of estate

The buildings are among several Swansea Council has recently sold as it looks to make best use of its estate.

The folly, an octagonal prospect tower located on Saunders Way in Sketty, is a grade two listed building on a 0.45-acre site that dates back to the early 19th century. It’s now been sold after being subject to nine formal offers.

Two former city centre toilet blocks on Welcome Lane and Princess Way have also been recently sold at national auction. These three sales have together raised more than £250,000 that will be re-invested back into council services.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “Our building and land disposal programme is vitally important for a number of reasons. Not only does it make best use of our estate, but it also helps generate money that will be reinvested back into council services.

“Our strategic estates team has done a fine job so far, but the disposal programme is being continually updated with strategic sites, development sites and various individual plots of land. There are also a number of positive talks on-going about other buildings and plots of land we currently own as we look to secure even more deals for the benefit of Swansea residents in the near future.”

Other recent success stories include agreeing the sale of a plot of land in Penplas that once accommodated Leo’s to a commercial retail developer.

Swansea Council has also agreed the sale of the former Alberto Culver factory site in Llansamlet. Talks with an investor that could lead to 100 new jobs are now nearing completion.

Cllr Stewart said: “These sales will also lead to considerable community benefits as well because of the jobs and facilities they’ll generate.”

A number of bids for the Penllergaer Civic Centre site, most of which have come from housing developers, are now being considered, with Swansea Council looking to complete the sale early next year. One or more development partners will also be appointed by the end of the year to lead the regeneration of the Civic Centre and St David’s sites in the city centre.

Outline proposals for the Civic Centre site on Oystermouth Road, 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.