£120m scheme in Swansea ‘catalyst’ for city-wide regeneration
Full planning permission has been granted for the £120m Swansea Central Phase One scheme.
The scheme includes a 3,500-capacity arena, coastal park, digital plaza, a new pedestrian bridge, new homes and premises for retail, food and drink.
The arena will be managed by The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), a global leader in live entertainment. It will be part-funded by the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector.
The council hope the scheme will be a ‘catalyst’ for city-wide regeneration.
‘This is a big day for Swansea,’ said council leader Rob Stewart.
‘Today’s final planning decision allows us to progress swiftly with one of our city’s biggest ever transformation projects,’ he added.
‘Our 3,500-capacity state-of-the-art arena will be the first such venue in the UK to be wrapped in a dynamic digital skin. It will be a unique draw for Swansea, will generate hundreds of new jobs and a significant annual boost to the local economy.’
The scheme will also include the first new park in the city since Victorian times.
The council says pedestrian access and transport in the area will be improved by the proposals thanks to the new pedestrian bridge, which will connect the city centre with the arena and Marina.
The bridge will also be on the same level as shops, cafes and restaurants and there will be more than 940 car parking spaces as well as highway improvements.
Director Spencer Winter added: ‘This is a transformational scheme for Swansea and we welcome the approval of the reserved matters.
‘This truly outstanding arena will bring a new and exciting leisure offering to the city. The coastal parkland will provide some much needed new green space to the city centre, supporting the proposed and future residential aspects of Swansea Central regeneration, the arena and strengthening the route to the bay. Phase One is very much the catalyst for further phases of regeneration.’
The scheme will be built over the next two years.
