January Progress Targeted For St David’s Regeneration Plans

Swansea Council’s development managers for the St David’s regeneration site are targeting the publication of a draft outline planning application towards the end of January. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rivington Land’s winning ideas for the site, which is made up of the former St David’s shopping centre and the LC car park, include an indoor arena, a hotel, shops, restaurants, a boutique cinema, plenty of car parking spaces and a broad pedestrian bridge over Oystermouth Road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This follows on from a public exhibition in the city centre visited by more than 700 people at the start of December which was very well received. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thousands of people have also visited the www.swanseacentral.info website to have a look at the ideas and concepts for the site’s regeneration. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The vast majority of people to have visited the exhibition or filled-in feedback cards are in favour of what’s being proposed for the St David’s site. This is important because we want to deliver a city centre that meets the needs and aspirations of residents, businesses and visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A huge amount of progress has been made behind the scenes since we appointed Rivington this time last year, but there’s still plenty of time for people to have their say. The Swansea Central website is still live and more opportunities for feedback will be made available after the draft outline planning application is published later this month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All the views we receive will then be considered to help inform the detail of an outline planning application due to be considered in March. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In combination with our plans to regenerate the Civic Centre site and transform Kingsway into an digital district, the plans for St David’s will see the establishment of a digital square and digital arena which will lead to a far more vibrant city centre at the heart of the Swansea Bay City Region economy.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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Cllr Stewart also says the UK Government has indicated their intent to sign a City Deal for the Swansea Bay City Region early this year, with the Welsh Government having already given the deal an in-principle approval. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Once approved, the City Deal would lead to a digital district on Kingsway, with major investment in digital infrastructure earmarked to help attract major employers and support the development of innovative tech businesses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​