It’s been a long-held ambition to properly connect Swansea with its sea – this project aims to do just that and plenty more
It’s a transformation which promises to change the face of a Welsh city. Set in a prime seafront spot, with money-can’t-buy priceless views of Swansea Bay, the city’s civic centre offers all the potential in the world for new and exciting projects to move in and completely develop the area beyond recognition, helping an ever-changing city create itself another asset.
But the plans extend well beyond this old concrete building set to have a glamorous new future and will reconnect a city with its sea, a long-held ambition of many a planner.
Following the council’s relocation to its new base at Y Storfa in Oxford Street, the question on most people’s lips has been what is to become of the imposing civic centre, which since it first opened in 1982 has overlooked the promenade and long sweeping sands of the beach.
And this week, we have come a lot closer to discovering the answer. Plans for a ‘vibrant new focal point’ have been unveiled by Swansea Council, with new cafes, bars and beach sports shops, apartments, workspaces and an events space. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here.
But the most standout features of the plans are an aquarium and a large saltwater lido, a first for the city, create a completely new and unique feature to enhance one of the true jewels in its crown.
A saltwater lido is an outdoor public swimming pool filled with natural, unchlorinated seawater, often located on the coast or designed as a tidal pool.
In the UK, such pools are mostly seen in southwest England, including Trevone Sea Pool, Bude Sea Pool, and Chapel Pool, all in Cornwall, and Westward Ho! Sea Pool and Shoalstone Seawater Pool, both in Devon.
Long has a dream been held to better link the city centre with its glorious bay. A huge dual carriageway dissecting the city from the bay has not helped. But the idea is for the new “waterfront district” to properly connect the city centre and arena area to the beach, with a wide path leading between the two stretching out into the sea on a new pier.
The civic centre would form the centrepoint of the new areaa with an array of places to eat, drink, stay and work.
The redevelopment is being led by the council and its partner, Urban Splash, a regeneration company, founded in 1993, and known for transforming urban areas into vibrant places to live, work, and play.
It focuses on innovative design, community, and sustainable modern construction, with notable projects in Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield.
And this is not the only project in the city that it’s working on.
Elsewhere, Porth Copr, a modern office and learning campus development, is also being developed minutes from the beach.
It has been described as a series of distinctive buildings “clustered round tranquil new green space overlooking a historic city-centre church”.
A Swansea Council spokesman said the authority was working closely with Urban Splash.
“A mixed-use scheme is planned for the former St David’s Shopping Centre site, which will be known as Porth Copr,” the spokesman said.
“This will include a new office building, landscaped public spaces and other developments that will be announced once details are finalised.
“The artist’s impressions for both Porth Copr and the civic centre site are conceptual at this stage.
“Early feedback is soon being sought on initial proposals for the Civic Centre site, which include new cafes, bars and beach sports shops, as well as apartments, workspaces, an aquarium, a saltwater lido and an events space.
“An exhibition is being made available at the Y Storfa community services hub on Oxford Street on January 28 and January 29, giving people the chance to find out more, offer feedback and help shape final plans.
“A webpage will also be live in the coming days where people can give their feedback online. That’ll be publicised once it’s available and there will also be other opportunities for people to give feedback in future.”
He added: “Commercial and residential uses are being proposed for the Paxton Street car park area, along with improved links to the seafront, although this area won’t form part of the first phase of the Civic Centre site’s redevelopment. More details will be released on proposals for that area once they’re finalised in future.”
The exhibition events will take place at Y Storfa (former BHS) in Oxford Street, Swansea, on Wednesday, January 28, from 3pm until 7pm, and Thursday, January 29 from 9am until 5.30pm.
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