Tree numbers to increase as arena work advances  

Tree numbers to increase as arena work advances

The number of trees in a key Swansea city centre location is to increase.

Seventeen new trees – including species such as red maple, London plane, and birch – are to be planted close to the Tesco Marina store.

The new greenery, supported by the introduction of other plants, will be part of work on the £135m Swansea Central Phase One scheme.

It will accompany improvements to Wellington Street. These will allow improved access to the Quadrant multi-storey and Tesco car parks, and easy access to a 588-space multi-storey being built as part of Swansea Central on the former St Mary’s car park.

The improvement work is being carried out by Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd on behalf of Swansea Council.

Mark Thomas, the council’s cabinet member for environment and infrastructure management, said: “I’m delighted that we’re increasing the number of trees in that area.

“Swansea is becoming a greener city and our regeneration projects reflect that, with hundreds of trees appearing in the Kingsway area and planned for the Swansea Central Phase one development.

“This council wants to maintain and enhance Swansea’s natural resources and biodiversity – and Wellington Street is an example of that.

“Around the city centre we’re creating new parkland, new green areas, planting many more trees and a delivering a huge re-greening programme.

“We’re making Wellington Street two-way to ensure straightforward access for road users to two major council car parks – including the new one – and to the Tesco car park.

“We’ve completed preparatory work on Wellington Street and – this summer – will move onto the main improvements.”

The improvements to Wellington Street will see:

• New trees planted in a new central reservation at the West Way end of Wellington Street, on the site of the existing Tesco car park entrance and between the Tesco store and the Quadrant multi-storey
• New soft landscaped areas introduced.
• The Tesco car park entrance move around 40 metres eastwards along Wellington Street
• Wellington Street between the Tesco store and the Quadrant multi-storey become two lane and two way
• A bus stop and filter lane installed for motorists heading into the Quadrant car park
• An enlarged roundabout at the Wellington Street/Albert Row junction allowing simple access and departures from the new multi-storey

Disability parking provision will continue to be close to the store entrance.

As part of the work eight existing trees will be removed from land immediately on the Tesco side of Wellington Street.

The trees being removed are part of the original Swansea Central Phase One plan and were included in the planning application process.

Wellington Street construction work is due to start this summer and is due to take several months. Throughout the work, access will remain for Tesco, the Quadrant multi-storey and the street’s coach facility.

Tesco have been fully consulted and city centre businesses are being informed of the changes.

Swansea Central Phase One will include a 3,500-capacity arena which is key to the city’s regeneration.

Other aspects of the scheme will include car parking, a landmark bridge, a coastal park, commercial units and apartments.

It will bring new jobs and act as a catalyst for further investment in the city. The arena will be run by global entertainment operator ATG.

Swansea Central Phase One is due to open in the second half of next year.

The arena is due to be part-funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal as part of the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District project. This project also includes a digital village for tech businesses on Kingsway, and a box village and innovation precinct development at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David campus in SA1.

The Swansea Bay City Deal is an investment in 11 major projects across the Swansea Bay City Region, subject to the approval of business cases, with funding from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector.