Castle Square Is Not For Sale, Says Council Leader

Views on the future of Swansea’s Castle Square are now being considered as the council explores ideas to transform the space into a more vibrant, family-friendly destination. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Feedback in response to a Public Open Space Notice will form part of a report to be determined by the council’s cabinet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, stresses that the square isn’t for sale. He says public ownership and public access won’t be compromised, whatever scheme may be chosen in future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Stewart said: “I’d like to again go on the record to say Castle Square is not being put up for sale. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There still seems to be an impression among some people that we’re selling the square and that this much-loved public space will be built on and lost forever. That’s simply not true. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many people have told us that the square is looking tired and needs changing, so all we’re doing is exploring options that could see it transformed into a vibrant, family-friendly destination that befits its location at the heart of our city centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“People also remember Castle Gardens with fondness, so we’d like the square to include more greenery in future, transforming it into an aesthetically pleasing space where people can meet, relax or enjoy a snack, an ice-cream or a coffee.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Examples of good practice elsewhere in Swansea could be the inspiration for a transformed square, added Cllr Stewart. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “Our ideas don’t mean losing the amount of public space people now enjoy in the square. By clever design, we can retain public access and events, while creating a better destination and visiting experience that links with Swansea Castle and our planned regeneration of the St David’s development site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Verdi’s and the 360 cafe are good examples of what can happen if we get it right, where small parts of the promenade which remain public property have been redeveloped to create better offerings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“People will also have plenty of opportunities to share their views with us on specific plans that could materialise in future before any decisions are made. It’s important people give us their views on what the square could be and what they would like to see there. That way it will become a people’s design for a fantastic new space in the city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​