Urban Splash appointed to lead major Swansea regeneration

Swansea Council has appointed regeneration company Urban Splash as its preferred development partner for a number of key sites, as part of a £750m project to transform Swansea city centre and develop new homes and attractions along the coast and riverfront.

Urban Splash has been appointed to lead the development for the Civic Centre, Swansea Central North and a plot of land running alongside the River Tawe in the St Thomas area of the city.

Early ideas for each site have been proposed, which will be worked up in more detail before local people have the opportunity to give feedback on them and help shape the developments.

The early proposals include the transformation of the 23-acre Civic Centre into a new city waterfront district, creating a mixed-use destination on the beach with new homes and a strong leisure and hospitality focus.

The Council also plan on developing new office buildings, apartments and shared workspaces on the Swansea Central North site, bringing more space for small businesses to the city.

A residential-led regeneration is expected for the St Thomas site, featuring family homes, apartments, new public spaces and a new terraced river walk, providing direct access to the river for the first time in over 150 years.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader, said: ‘The appointment of Urban Splash is a significant private sector vote of confidence not just in Swansea’s enormous potential, but also in the huge amount of regeneration work led by the council that’s already happening in the city, including our £135m Copr Bay phase one district. This work has acted as a catalyst to attract a company of Urban Splash’s quality and experience and is part of a £1bn regeneration story unfolding across Swansea that’s transforming the city into one of the UK’s best places to live, work, study and visit.

‘The regeneration of these three key sites will help take Swansea to the next level by creating thousands more jobs for local people, hundreds more new homes for local families and a mixed-use, vibrant city centre destination with the footfall it needs to thrive. Although subject to consultation in future to ensure people’s views are taken on board, the early proposals will help realise these goals, while also giving the stunning Civic Centre site on our world-class bay back to Swansea people and visitors to the city.

‘We look forward to working with Urban Splash on further developing these exciting proposals for the people of Swansea to consider, along with ideas on how best to regenerate other key sites forming part of our Shaping Swansea plans.’

Jonathan Falkingham MBE, Urban Splash co-founder, added: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be working alongside Swansea Council and all of the partners involved in this fascinating project.

‘I have a longstanding affiliation with this brilliant city, attending school here in my younger days. I’m pleased to be back in Swansea to help deliver such an exciting new era for the city. We have plans for a world-class environment of great architectural quality, that recognises and enhances the existing historic fabric of the local area and its beautiful location. We hope to achieve this through multi-authorship and partnering with brilliant designers to evolve the most appealing and sustainable designs for each area of this new neighbourhood.’

In related news, following outline planning approval earlier this year, Southampton City Council has approved the commercial terms for the Leisure World scheme, enabling progress towards a start on site in early 2023.

Photo supplied by Swansea Council