Swansea Council has made the decision to only carry out internal stripping-out work in November and December to minimise the potential for any disruption.
Cuddy Group, who the council has now appointed to lead the project, will soon start setting up a presence on site. Hoardings are due to go up outside the Kingsway building from the middle of November before internal work starts towards the beginning of December.
Demolition is scheduled to finish at the end of May next year. Subject to funding, Swansea Council will replace the ageing building with a new office development to help kick-start Kingsway’s transformation into a business district.
A meeting will soon take place to keep traders in the area updated.
Russell Greenslade, Chief Executive of Swansea BID (Business Improvement District), said: “We work closely alongside the council, so it’s great to hear that the Oceana works won’t be at all disruptive in the build-up to the important Christmas trading period. We’re also working with the council on the meeting for local traders to ensure everyone is kept informed.”
The demolition is being funded by the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Swansea City Centre regeneration programme that was awarded in June, 2014.
Vibrant and Viable Places (VVP) is a three-year programme (2014-2017) through which Swansea Council has been awarded £8.53 million to target key regeneration projects in the city centre.
The council is also exploring the development of a green plaza along Kingsway that will generate the kind of high-quality environment that will attract employers and jobs.
“We look forward to learning more about the exciting plans to transform Kingsway into a business district,” said Mr Greenslade. “More people working in the city centre will increase foot flow, which is the lifeblood of businesses. This is to be supported and welcomed.”
The council completed the purchase of the former Oceana building in September. 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.
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