Feedback Wanted On City Centre Regeneration Ideas

Close to 800 people visited a Swansea city centre public exhibition giving people the chance to share their views on ideas and concepts to regenerate the St David’s development site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The exhibition for the proposals to regenerate the site, which has been temporarily re-named Swansea Central, was made available next to New Look in St Mary’s Square from December 1 to December 3. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council has appointed Rivington Land to manage the regeneration of the site, which is made up of land both north and south of Oystermouth Road. The development site includes the LC car park and the former St David’s shopping centre site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A new digital indoor arena, more shops, more restaurants, leisure attractions and a broad pedestrian link over Oystermouth Road are among the proposals, as the council looks to create jobs and transform Swansea city centre into a top class destination for residents and visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over 100 feedback cards were filled in at the exhibition, with several people also returning their feedback via Freepost. Of the responses received so far, figures show over 77% of people to be in favour of the ideas being proposed, with 19% undecided. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A website is also now live at www.swanseacentral.info where people can share their views. The website includes conceptual images and an estimated development timetable. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “Public feedback is important because we want to develop the kind of vibrant, mixed-use city centre that meets everyone’s aspirations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All the views we receive will inform the detail of a draft outline planning application due to be published towards the end of January, 2017. Further consultation will then be held before the submission of an outline planning application by the end of March, 2017, at the latest. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The exciting ideas and concepts Rivington Land are proposing for the development site will combine with plans we have for other parts of the city centre to transform its retail, leisure, urban living, business and recreational offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d urge anyone who didn’t have the chance to pop into our public exhibition to have a look at the Swansea Central website and submit their online feedback from there. This is an opportunity to shape the future of Swansea city centre.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​