#andrewscottltd — Public Fediverse posts

LLANELLI: First look inside the new market hall — 70 orange-framed stalls, a balcony over the central void, and terrazzo floors throughout

This is the first look inside Llanelli‘s new market hall — the building that will replace the town’s RAAC-hit indoor market.

Newly published visualisations show the main entrance atrium, the view down into the rear atrium, and shoppers looking out over a central void from the first-floor balcony.

The first external images of the two-storey hall — 14 shops, a first-floor café and a green-tiled Vaughan Street frontage — were published earlier this month, as residents were invited to comment before the planning application goes in.

The design documents now fill in what traders and shoppers will actually get — starting with the stalls.

70 stalls, three types

The stall schedule lists 70 market stalls of a consistent design, split into three types by what they’re plumbed and wired for: 20 with power, water and ventilation, 30 with power and water, and 20 with power only.

Each stall is built around a steel frame finished in the market’s signature orange, with tension-cable bracing for hanging displays and a suspended lighting bar above in dark slate.

The central void seen from the first floor. Image: AHR Architects / Carmarthenshire County CouncilThe central void seen from the first floor. Image: AHR Architects / Carmarthenshire County Council

Front counters stand at a metre high with a liftable section and a concealed door in the facade, while below-counter space is left clear for fridges and flexible storage.

Worktops are Corian solid surface with integrated sinks and drainage grooves routed straight into the surface, and counter fronts are finished in reclaimed timber — arranged vertically to echo the hall’s acoustic timber lining.

Every stall gets customisable signage on a timber board, and end stalls gain an extra high counter to maximise display space.

Throughout the hall, the floor is terrazzo — running continuously under the stalls — and glazing is maximised in black “Crittall”-style framing, all of it rated for 60 minutes’ fire resistance following the fire engineer’s report.

The street it will change

The elevations show the hall taking its place on Vaughan Street beside the Grade I-listed Llanelly House, with a brick frontage designed around its heritage neighbours — soldier-bond window surrounds, curved brick corners, glazed bricks and window proportions “sympathetic of adjacent heritage buildings”.

The Vaughan Street elevation, with the Grade I-listed Llanelly House to the left of the new market hall. Image: AHR Architects / Carmarthenshire County Council

Today, that stretch of street is a run of shuttered units under a weathered canopy — awaiting demolition to make way for the hall, opposite Home Bargains.

The shuttered Vaughan Street units that will be demolished to make way for the new market hall

The facade against the neighbouring property is left deliberately blank “to not interfere with future development” — a hint the market may not be the last change on this street.

Around the back, the building has been pulled away from the boundary to create a new pavement, with zebra crossings proposed across Market Street and the service road, benches, and rain gardens planted as part of the drainage system.

What happens next

The scheme is at pre-application consultation stage, giving residents a formal chance to comment before Carmarthenshire County Council submits its planning application.

The new hall will replace the town’s existing indoor market, where the concrete now known as RAAC was found — with escalators between the floors, rooftop solar panels and the orange-framed stalls that have become the scheme’s signature.

For now, the current market’s bilingual welcome sign still greets shoppers — Croeso i Neuadd y Farchnad Llanelli.

The current market entrance — for now

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

LLANELLI: First look at the town’s new market hall — 14 shops, a first-floor café and a green-tiled frontage
The first external images of the scheme, published earlier this month.

LLANELLI: Opulence closes — as prime Eastgate unit loses its third bar in a decade
Another chapter in the town centre’s changing fortunes.

LLANELLI: Consultation opens on £35m Ysgol Heol Goffa rebuild
Another major council scheme out for comment in the town.

GREEN STEEL: Llanelli firm lands key contract on Port Talbot’s £1.25bn transformation
Morganstone’s first contract with Tata Steel.

#AndrewScottLtd #CarmarthenshireCouncil #featured #Llanelli #LlanelliMarket #RAAC #VaughanStreet

SWANSEA: Scaffolding tops the copperworks chimneys — as engine house restoration gathers pace

The landmark chimneys of Swansea’s historic copperworks have been scaffolded to their summits — the most visible sign yet that restoration of the site’s engine houses is under way.

Contractors Andrew Scott have been on site at the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks since mid-April, working on plans to restore the Vivian and Musgrave Engine Houses and the neighbouring V&S No.1 locomotive shed.

Looking into the mouth of the copperworks chimney from the scaffolding (Image: Swansea Council)

Swansea Council said activity so far has included site set-up, vegetation clearance and preparations for detailed condition surveys of the key structures.

A sustainable drainage pond has been excavated, and work has started on new access routes into the site.

The council said further visible progress is expected over the coming weeks as site preparation and infrastructure works continue.

The scheme aims to bring the listed buildings back into use — with the council saying the restored engine houses could in future support food, retail and exhibition space, drawing more visitors to the Lower Swansea Valley.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart (left) and Steve Rees of contractors Andrew Scott at the top of the scaffolded copperworks chimney (Image: Swansea Council)

The two engine houses are among the most important survivors of Swansea’s copper industry, which powered the town’s growth over some 300 years.

The Vivian Engine House dates from 1860, and is set to gain a mezzanine floor, with a new building linking the two structures and an outdoor terrace.

The Musgrave Engine House, built around 1910, contains the Musgrave Engine — a scheduled ancient monument, and the only one of its kind in the UK still in its original location. Its external elements are due to get a covered shelter to allow future restoration.

Both chimneys in scaffolding at the copperworks site, with the engine house in the foreground (Image: Swansea Council)

Andrew Scott, the Swansea-based contractor whose history stretches back more than 150 years, was chosen for the project last summer following a competitive tender.

Plans for the restoration were approved in early 2025, and restoration work is also under way on the site’s Grade II listed powerhouse building, which could become a restaurant for more than 100 diners.

The site has also produced “internationally significant” archaeological discoveries in recent months, with rare evidence of historic copper-processing techniques unearthed.

The engine houses sit close to the route of the Skyline development, the £49m cable car and luge attraction now under construction on Kilvey Hill — part of a wave of investment along the River Tawe corridor.

The restoration project is supported by UK Government funding through the Local Regeneration Fund, the council said.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Welsh business chosen to bring new life to Swansea heritage buildings
How Andrew Scott was selected for the engine houses project.

Work progresses on historic copperworks building that could become new restaurant
The Grade II listed powerhouse that could seat more than 100 diners.

“Internationally significant” discoveries shed new light on Swansea’s world-famous industrial past
The archaeological finds unearthed at the copperworks site.

#AndrewScottLtd #HafodMorfaCopperworks #heritage #MusgraveEngine #regeneration #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #VivianEngineHouse

LLANELLI: First look at the town’s new market hall — 14 shops, a first-floor café and a green-tiled frontage for Vaughan Street

The first images of Llanelli‘s new market hall have been revealed — a two-storey building on Vaughan Street with 14 shops, a first-floor café, escalators and a frontage of green glazed brick.

The plans have been published for statutory pre-application consultation on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council — a legally required step before a formal planning application is submitted — and confirm the indoor market must leave its current home by 2028, ahead of the demolition of the market and the Murray Street multi-storey car park above it.

The new hall would be built at 8–14 Vaughan Street, with the former Woolworths building now occupied by Bargain Buys, a vacant shop unit alongside it and a former pub at number 14 all demolished to make way for it. The council bought the three-storey former pub to enlarge the site.

Documents published with the draft application spell out why the move cannot wait. The existing 1970s market building contains reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete — RAAC — and despite major remedial works in 2013, the number of usable parking spaces above has been restricted ever since.

The 527-space car park was never designed for the weight of modern electric vehicles, the documents say, and repairs have become “increasingly cost prohibitive”. Around 224 drivers a day currently use it via the Murray Street ramp.

The council’s programme means the market must be emptied by 2028, allowing the market and car park structure to come down and clearing the way for the site’s redevelopment. Demolition funding was set aside in the county’s £146.7m five-year capital plan in January.

Today’s market provides around 3,664 square metres of trading space, with 17 retail units and 110 stalls, reached from the Stepney Precinct and by an underground walkway from Cowell Street. Those figures shaped the brief for the new building.

Inside the new hall, all 14 retail units would sit on the ground floor, arranged either side of an arcade-style route running in a straight line from the front entrance to the rear. Six of the units would open directly onto the street.

The first floor would hold the majority of the market stalls, along with a large café positioned to be visible from the entrance — a deliberate move, alongside placing the toilets upstairs, to draw shoppers up through the building.

Escalators would carry visitors between floors, with a second “down” escalator added at the main entrance during design development, alongside a lift and stairs.

The main Vaughan Street entrance at night, with the escalators visible through the glazed frontage. Image: AHR / Carmarthenshire County Council

The stalls themselves would share a consistent design of orange-framed steel with solid worktops and integrated sinks, set against black Crittall-style glazing on the shop units.

Outside, the buff brick building would be trimmed with green glazed brick around its ground-floor openings and entrance, beneath bilingual signage reading Neuadd y Farchnad Llanelli — Llanelli Market Hall.

The site borders the town’s conservation area and shares a party wall with a listed building, meaning listed building consent will be needed for some works. Grade I listed Llanelli House and the Grade II* St Elli Church are among its neighbours, and the design keeps the building to a similar height as those around it.

The view towards the new market hall from Thomas Street, showing the building’s curved corner. Image: AHR / Carmarthenshire County Council

On the roof, solar panels would sit alongside a “blue-green” roof designed to hold rain and storm water and release it slowly, easing pressure on the town’s sewers, with hardy sedum planting to boost biodiversity. Rain gardens and benches are proposed at street level.

A second entrance at the rear would open the building up towards Market Street and Mincing Lane, with deliveries, servicing and accessible parking kept behind the building — leaving the pedestrianised Vaughan Street frontage free for shoppers.

Market traders have twice met the design team, most recently on 6 June, and their fingerprints are on the final scheme: concerns about stalls being hidden upstairs were answered with open voids, escalators and the upstairs café, while all retail was moved to the ground floor after traders objected to shops on the first floor.

Traders also said they were not confident in the scheme’s original signature orange colouring — prompting the switch to the green feature brickwork now shown in the images.

The building has been designed by architects AHR, with Port Talbot-based contractor Andrew Scott lined up to build it. The scheme has drawn debate in the town since it was announced, with Labour councillors calling for a trader-led vision and a mixed reaction of optimism and concern from residents and traders.

Anyone wishing to make representations about the proposals must do so by Friday 7 August. Comments can be emailed to [email protected] or sent by post to Asbri Planning Ltd, Suite D, 1st Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW — with the full draft application documents and a response form available on Asbri Planning’s website.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Llanelli faces twin loss as council moves to demolish market and multi-storey car park
Traders were presented with relocation options as the council confirmed the RAAC-hit building’s days are numbered.

£146m Carmarthenshire capital plan includes market demolition, school upgrades and Debenhams delay
The county’s five-year spending programme set aside funding for the market and car park to come down.

Llanelli Market move: Labour calls for trader-led vision as concerns mount over town centre plans
Opposition councillors urged the council to put stallholders at the heart of the relocation.

Reaction to Llanelli Market and car park plans: optimism, concern and calls for clarity
Residents and traders gave a mixed verdict when the relocation plans first emerged.

#AndrewScottLtd #CarmarthenshireCouncil #featured #Llanelli #LlanelliMarket #RAAC #VaughanStreet

COPR BAY: Opening day named for long-delayed car park — with 628 spaces, £1-an-hour parking and a city centre car park closing the same day

Swansea’s long-delayed Copr Bay North car park finally has an opening day — Monday 13 July.

The seven-storey multi-storey beside the Oystermouth Road bridge will bring 628 spaces to the city centre, more than four years after the rest of the Copr Bay district opened — and years behind schedule after its original contractor collapsed mid-build.

The car park entrance will be on Albert Row.

Parking will be part of Swansea Council’s 1-2-3-4-5 offer: £1 an hour for up to five hours, with a maximum charge of £5 for up to 24 hours from Monday to Saturday.

On Sundays, parking costs £2 all day regardless of length of stay.

The car park includes standard bays, accessible parking, electric vehicle charging bays and motorcycle spaces.

Cllr Andrew Stevens and council leader Cllr Rob Stewart outside the new Copr Bay North car park (Image: Swansea Council)

But the opening comes with a closure. The St David’s multi-storey car park — 375 spaces — shuts for good the same day.

The 375-space St David’s multi-storey car park closes on Monday 13 July ahead of demolition (Image: Swansea Council)

That car park will then be demolished to make way for the next phase of regeneration on the former St David’s Shopping Centre site, where ground investigation works for a landmark office scheme began last autumn.

Taken together, the council says the change amounts to a net increase of more than 250 city centre parking spaces.

Season ticket holders at St David’s will be relocated to Copr Bay North from opening day, while LC permit holders at the Copr Bay South car park move over on Monday 3 August. All permit holders will be contacted directly.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said residents, visitors and businesses wanted more city centre parking at affordable prices.

“That’s why we’ve invested in this new facility, creating even more parking spaces than were previously available while ensuring prices remain highly competitive compared with other towns and cities across the UK,” he said, adding the council would continue with what it describes as some of the cheapest city centre parking in the country.

The five retail units on Cupid Way beneath the car park — which have stood empty since the district opened, after the traders first announced for them never moved in — are being marketed to prospective shop, restaurant and café operators.

Council leader Cllr Rob Stewart said the ambition was “to create a vibrant link between the city centre, the bridge and Swansea Arena”, calling the car park’s completion another step towards that vision.

He said further announcements would be made in the coming weeks about plans for the former shopping centre site — plans he said would “bring significantly more people into the area, helping to create the footfall needed to attract new shops and other businesses”.

The development was delivered by Swansea Council with RivingtonHark as development manager, and Andrew Scott Ltd completing the finishing works after the original contractor went into administration.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

COPR BAY: Long-delayed car park to open within weeks — but four years on, its shops still stand empty
Our report from June on the car park’s delays and the empty Cupid Way units.

Swansea’s half-finished Copr Bay car park finally shows progress as scaffolding comes down
How the structure was left in limbo after its original contractor collapsed mid-build.

Site investigation works begin ahead of new Swansea city office development
The plans taking shape on the former St David’s Shopping Centre site.

#AndrewScottLtd #CoprBay #CoprBayCarPark #CupidWay #featured #regeneration #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil

COPR BAY: Long-delayed car park to open within weeks — but four years on, its shops still stand empty

Councillors on a scrutiny panel were told this week that an opening date for the car park, behind the Tesco superstore off Oystermouth Road, would be announced shortly.

It brings an end in sight to one of the more frustrating chapters of Swansea’s recent regeneration.

A corner retail unit beneath the Copr Bay North car park on Cupid Way. (Image: Swansea Bay News)

A four-year wait

The car park is part of the council’s £135m Copr Bay scheme, which delivered the Swansea Arena, a block of flats, a coastal park and the landmark bridge over Oystermouth Road when it opened in March 2022.

The district has not been without parking in the meantime. The Copr Bay South car park, next to the Arena and beneath Mary Dilwyn Park, opened alongside the venue in 2022. It is the larger Copr Bay North multi-storey, on the other side of Oystermouth Road, that has been held up.

It was meant to follow soon after the rest of the scheme. But the original contractor, Buckingham Group, went into administration in 2023, leaving the half-finished structure in limbo.

Progress since then has been slow, with contractor Andrew Scott brought in to complete the work left unfinished.

Council leader Rob Stewart told the meeting that money held back within the original Copr Bay contract — set aside in an escrow account to cover the risk of exactly this kind of contractor failure — “remains sufficient” to cover the cost of finishing the job.

The council says it has also secured a £4.8m Welsh Government grant towards the car park and its retail units.

The curved glazed frontage at the base of the new Copr Bay North car park. (Image: Swansea Bay News)

Scaffolding finally came off the building earlier this year, and the council now expects it to be finished next month.

Officers told the meeting that once the opening date is confirmed — expected “very, very shortly” — the council will move quickly to demolish the neighbouring St David’s multi-storey car park, which has remained in use throughout and sits right beside the new building, separated only by Cupid Way.

The ageing structure is to come down once Copr Bay North takes over — part of the wider regeneration of that site, which we will look at separately.

Andrew Scott vans on site, with the ageing St David’s multi-storey car park behind — due for demolition once Copr Bay North opens. (Image: Swansea Bay News)Unit 10 on Cupid Way, one of the five units beneath the car park still standing empty four years on. (Image: Swansea Bay News)

The shops that never came

Built into the car park are five retail units along Cupid Way — and their story has been a frustrating one.

When the units were first marketed, the council announced a line-up of mostly local food and drink traders, including Ammanford-based Coaltown Coffee, alongside FrozziYo Frozen Yoghurt and KoKoDoo Korean Fried Chicken, as well as Imperial Candy.

In the end, none took up their Cupid Way unit.

Coaltown Coffee did not open in the city centre, though it continues to trade at its sites in Ammanford and Pontarddulais.

FrozziYo instead opened on the Kingsway, while KoKoDoo Korean Fried Chicken opened on Wind Street.

Imperial Candy — a sister brand to Imperial Desserts on High Street, run by local businessman Ammar Alabtah — did not open.

Cupid Way itself carries a piece of local history: it is named after Cyril Cupid, a record-breaking Swansea sprinter of the 1930s.

The council’s regeneration strategic manager, Lee Richards, told the panel that marketing of the units had restarted now an opening date was in sight, and that there were already “two very strong interests” for two of them.

He said it was “quite a positive position”, with the council hopeful of securing tenants for the rest “quite quickly”.

The heritage board on the Cupid Way hoardings telling the story of Swansea sprinter Cyril Cupid. (Image: Swansea Bay News)

What happens next

For now, the milestone residents have waited years for is the car park itself, with an opening date expected within weeks.

Whether the shop units below it finally come to life is the next test for a corner of the city centre that has promised much, but so far delivered slowly.

The Copr Bay North car park, with its copper-fin façade, nearing completion beside Swansea Arena. (Image: Swansea Bay News)

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Scaffolding comes down on stalled Copr Bay car park
The half-finished multi-storey began to take shape again earlier this year after its contractor collapsed.

Opening date set for Swansea’s £135m Copr Bay district
The arena, coastal park and bridge over Oystermouth Road opened to the public in March 2022.

The traders lined up for Cupid Way
Coaltown Coffee was among the local food and drink names announced for the new units.

Food and drink chalets open at Copr Bay
FrozziYo and KoKoDoo were among the early arrivals on the Arena side of the bridge.

#AndrewScottLtd #CoprBay #CoprBayCarPark #CupidWay #regeneration #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil

SWANSEA: New big-top amphitheatre ready for summer shows

The outdoor venue opposite LC Swansea has been transformed with a striking big-top style canopy, new flooring and upgraded seating.

The overhaul is designed to breathe new life into one of Swansea’s best-known public spaces.

And it could mean far more live music, community events and performances returning to the city centre in the months ahead.

The sail-shaped canopy, created by Gower Sail Shades, is the centrepiece of the revamp.

It will provide shelter for performers, audiences and technical equipment — making the venue far more reliable in unpredictable weather.

That means events can go ahead even when conditions aren’t perfect, opening the door to a busier programme throughout the year.

Council bosses say the changes are already attracting attention from visitors heading to nearby attractions, bars and restaurants.

They hope the improved amphitheatre will become a key destination for both locals and tourists.

Councillor Elliott King said:

“This addition will significantly extend the venue’s versatility and usability throughout the year, supporting a wider range of cultural and community events.”

He added that it will help create a “unique outdoor venue in Swansea” capable of drawing in new audiences.

The upgrade also builds on the success of last summer’s Amplitude music event, which brought crowds into the area for a free weekend of live entertainment.

Performers who took part in that event are already said to be keen to return — this time with the added benefit of cover.

As well as the canopy, a series of practical improvements have been made across the site.

These include upgraded seating areas, improved steps and brand new handrails to make the venue safer and more accessible.

A mains power supply has also been installed, making it easier to stage professional performances without the need for temporary setups.

Together, the upgrades are expected to make the amphitheatre far more attractive to event organisers.

Community groups, local performers and touring acts are all expected to benefit.

The council is now encouraging interested groups to come forward and make use of the space.

Officials say it will host a mix of council-run events alongside bookings from external organisers.

The project forms part of wider efforts to strengthen Swansea’s cultural offer and support its creative industries.

It is also aimed at boosting footfall in the city centre and supporting surrounding businesses.

Funding for the upgrade has come from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme and the Business Wales Brilliant Basics initiative.

Contractors Andrew Scott Ltd worked alongside Gower Sail Shades to deliver the project.

With the work now complete, attention is turning to the summer — and the return of live entertainment.

And with its new look firmly in place, the amphitheatre could soon be back at the heart of Swansea’s events scene.

Amphitheatre revamp: more from Swansea Bay News

Amphitheatre set for dramatic makeover
Plans revealed for a striking new canopy in the city centre.

Work begins on new canopy
Construction gets underway on the major upgrade.

New music festival announced
Revamped venue to host fresh live events.

Who’s Molly to headline Amplitude
Band set to top the bill at free summer festival.

“Forgotten” amphitheatre to be revived
Earlier plans aimed to bring the space back to life.

#Amphitheatre #AmphitheatreCanopy #AndrewScottLtd #GowerSailShades #LCSwansea #sailShapedCanopy #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaEvents

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: £4.9m school boost gets underway in Townhill

A brand-new dining hall and all-weather sports pitch are being built at Townhill Community Primary School, with leaders hailing the project as a “game-changer” for pupils and families.

The investment — backed largely by the Welsh Government — aims to make sure every child can benefit from free school meals without squeezing into cramped facilities.

Right now, all pupils are entitled to a free lunch — but the school’s current kitchen and canteen simply can’t keep up.

Council leader Rob Stewart said:

“This is making a real and important difference to families throughout Swansea.”

And it’s not just about food.

The new hall will double up as a performance and community space — giving parents more room to watch school concerts and opening the doors for wider local use.

Meanwhile, a brand-new multi-use games area will give pupils — and the wider community — a place to stay active all year round.

Townhill Primary School, which was built in 1924 (Image: Swansea Council)

Education boss Robert Smith said:

“This will be an exciting addition… boosting health and wellbeing during the day and beyond.”

Contractors Andrew Scott Ltd are leading the build, which is expected to take around a year.

School leaders say the investment is about more than bricks and mortar.

Headteacher Peter Owen outside Townhill Community Primary School, which is set for a £4.9m upgrade.
(Image: Swansea Council)

Headteacher Peter Owen said:

“We are delighted the school and community are going to have such a superb resource.”

And governors say it marks a step towards becoming a true “community school” — with facilities used long after the final bell rings.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Clarkson blasts “mad” school dinners
TV host hits out as imported chicken lands on Welsh pupils’ plates.

Imported chicken in school dinners sparks anger
Welsh farmers say they’re being cut out of the system.

Council to trial seasonal school dinner menu
Veg grown on the authority’s own farm set to hit the plates.

School celebrates dinner supervisor’s 40 years
A milestone moment for a much‑loved member of staff.

#AndrewScottLtd #construction #education #freeSchoolMeals #schoolDinners #schoolMeals #SwanseaCouncil #Townhill #TownhillPrimarySchool

Inside Swansea’s old Debenhams: stripped‑out photos show dramatic transformation as major revamp gathers pace

The 13 interior images, taken as contractors near the end of the strip‑out phase, show the building completely hollowed out: escalators gone, ceilings exposed, and entire floors cleared of fittings, walls and partitions. What was once a maze of cosmetics counters, clothing rails and cafés is now a vast, echoing shell waiting for its next chapter.

A team from Andrew Scott Ltd, working on behalf of Swansea Council, is now close to finishing the demolition‑style clear‑out. The move paves the way for the next stage — a full landlord fitout — allowing future tenants to move in far faster once final agreements are signed.

Plans include splitting the ground floor into two new retail units for nationally recognised brands, while the upper floors are being lined up for a major leisure operator. Talks with prospective tenants are said to be “advanced”, with announcements expected once permissions are secured.

The top of the former Debenhams escalators, now stripped back to bare concrete as redevelopment continues.
(Image: Swansea Council)A bilingual sign for lifts and stairs still in place inside the stripped‑out Debenhams building. (Image: Swansea Council)A surviving ‘Debenhams First Floor’ sign at the bottom of a stairwell, one of the few reminders of the store’s past. (Image: Swansea Council)A vast open floor inside the old Debenhams, cleared back to its concrete structure. (Image: Swansea Council)Another angle on the cleared retail floor, showing the scale of the redevelopment. (Image: Swansea Council)Concrete pillars line the empty interior as the building prepares for its next phase. (Image: Swansea Council)The base of the escalators inside the former Debenhams, now fenced off during construction. (Image: Swansea Council)Red steel girders exposed above the sealed Garden Street exit beside the Quadrant car park. (Image: Swansea Council)The ground floor stripped to concrete, with the escalators cordoned off as work progresses. (Image: Swansea Council)A side view of the escalators, revealing the cleared floor space stretching behind them. (Image: Swansea Council)A mini‑excavator sits in the middle of the stripped‑out floor as redevelopment continues. (Image: Swansea Council)A ‘Welcome to Swansea’ mural uncovered inside the building during the strip‑out phase. (Image: Swansea Council)

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:

“We know how much this building means to residents and city centre businesses, which is why we stepped in to secure it with support from the Welsh Government after Debenhams went into administration across the country.

The strip‑out works are now largely complete and our focus now is moving to a landlord fitout so prospective tenants can move quickly into their own fitout phase once agreements are finalised.

Bringing this key building back into use is a major step towards creating a vibrant, thriving city centre. Not only will it provide high‑quality retail and leisure spaces, but it will also generate jobs, increase footfall and encourage further investment.”

The stripped‑back photos show just how extensive the transformation has been — bare floors stretching the length of the building, exposed steelwork, and the last remnants of the old department store removed as the site prepares for its new identity.

Steve Rees, Operations Director at Andrew Scott Ltd, said:

“We’re proud to be involved in the regeneration of such a landmark building.

Projects like this play a vital role in revitalising city centres while supporting local jobs and skills.

We have worked closely with our local supply chain partners ensuring the benefits of the investment are felt across the community. Our expertise in large refurbishment projects will contribute to a new retail and leisure facility that will have lasting benefits for Swansea.”

The Debenhams overhaul is the latest in a string of major city‑centre revivals, following the restoration of the Palace Theatre, the 71/72 Kingsway development — now 80% let — and the opening of Y Storfa, the new community services hub inside the former BHS building.

With the interior now stripped back to its bones, the next few months will determine how quickly the old Debenhams can reopen its doors — and which new names will take over one of Swansea’s most iconic retail spaces.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Carmarthen’s old Debenhams reborn as Atriwm – but opening pushed back to 2027
A major redevelopment in Carmarthen hits delays as the former Debenhams prepares for a new future.

Council announces three businesses to move into former city centre Debenhams
Swansea Council confirms the first wave of new tenants set to take over the landmark building.

New tenant for city Debenhams teased as new window vinyl artwork unveiled
Fresh branding appears on the building’s windows, hinting at the next big name moving in.

#AndrewScottLtd #Business #construction #Debenhams #featured #Quadrant #QuadrantShoppingCentre #refurbishment #renovation #retail #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaQuadrant

Swansea’s half‑finished Copr Bay car park finally shows progress as scaffolding comes down

The long‑delayed multi‑storey, sitting directly opposite Swansea Arena, is at last showing visible signs of progress after months of frustration. The project was thrown into chaos when the original contractor went into administration, leaving the council with a part‑completed shell and a tangle of legal and contractual hurdles to clear before work could restart.

Scaffolding starts to fall after months of delays

Workers from Andrew Scott Ltd, the Swansea‑based firm brought in to rescue the scheme, remain on site carrying out remedial and finishing works. The council says the car park is now on track for completion by early summer, with all remaining work being delivered at no extra cost to taxpayers.

Council Leader Rob Stewart said seeing the scaffolding come down marked a turning point in one of the most difficult chapters of the Copr Bay development.

Cllr Rob Stewart said:

“It’s been hugely frustrating that we were left with a half‑finished structure when the previous contractor failed. Despite the setbacks, we’ve kept the project moving and are on track to complete the work by the early summer.”

A project stalled by a contractor collapse

The car park was originally being built by Buckingham Group before the company went into administration, halting progress overnight. The collapse left Swansea Council with a half‑finished structure and months of legal and contractual work before a new contractor could be appointed.

Andrew Scott Ltd took over the site in 2024, tasked with completing the remedial work, fire protection, weather‑proofing and external finishes left incomplete by the previous contractor.

Two people walk past the Copr Bay car park as scaffolding is removed and protective sheeting remains in place. (Image: Swansea Council)

Retail units on Cupid Way back on the market

Below the car park, the retail units on Cupid Way — the new pedestrian link between the arena bridge and the city centre — are now being remarketed. Businesses originally lined up for the units are being contacted again to see if they still want to take space, with the council anticipating that some could move in as early as the spring.

A key piece of the Copr Bay district

The car park is one of the final unfinished elements of Copr Bay Phase One, which includes the arena, the yellow bridge over Oystermouth Road, Amy Dillwyn Park and new apartments and commercial units.

Once the new car park opens, the ageing St David’s multi‑storey is expected to be demolished as part of the wider regeneration of the area.

Cllr Stewart said completing the structure would help bring “more activity and life” to the district and support local businesses as the area continues to grow.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Council says incomplete Copr Bay car park to open by end of year
Earlier assurances from the council that the unfinished structure would still open on schedule.

Council appoints new Copr Bay contractor
Andrew Scott Ltd confirmed as the firm brought in to rescue the stalled project.

Council holding talks with new contractors after Buckingham goes into administration
The scramble to find a replacement builder after the original contractor collapsed.

Construction company behind Swansea’s new arena goes into administration
Buckingham Group’s collapse sent shockwaves through major UK projects, including Copr Bay.

Key workers start to move into Swansea’s affordable Copr Bay apartments
Progress elsewhere in the district as new residents moved into the development’s housing.

#AndrewScottLtd #BuckinghamGroupContracting #carPark #CllrRobStewart #construction #CoprBay #CoprBayCarPark #CupidWay #multiStoreyCarPark #scaffolding #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil

Over ‘300 skilled jobs’ secured for Port Talbot Steel works green transition plan

Tata Steel say the new jobs in the local supply chain will be part of new contracts signed with Bridgend-based companies Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Wernick Buildings, and Swansea-based business, Andrew Scott Ltd. 

Darlow Lloyd & Sons will play a key role in the initial phases of the project, overseeing excavation, recycling, infrastructure, and drainage works essential to the site’s transition to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking.

Director, Rhys Lloyd, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership which will boost employment across Neath Port Talbot and lay the foundation for future growth across the manufacturing sector.

“Our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site.

“This collaboration safeguards our experienced workforce and allows us to appoint local experts with transferable skillsets to this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

Advertisement

Critical infrastructure, including the construction of a new scrap yard to manage the inflow of UK-sourced used steel as a feedstock for the new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), will be completed by Andrew Scott Ltd. 

David Evan Williams, Civil Contracts Director said: “Having worked major on civil and construction projects at Port Talbot since the late 1800s, our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site. 

“We have committed to supporting local talent, ensuring that we fill positions with our skilled workforce, alongside experienced former Tata Steel workers and experts in the supply chain. As work progresses, we aim to provide further opportunities for individuals in surrounding communities to help deliver this exciting vision.”

Ben Wernick, Managing Director, Wernick Buildings added: “We are thrilled to bring our wealth of experience in the modular construction sector to deliver the centrepiece of Port Talbot’s contractor village; an 8500 square metre space spanning three buildings, comprised of offices and welfare zones.

“90% of the workers we employ to build this impressive space will be from communities surrounding the steelworks – spanning Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff – allowing us to nurture and grow regional talent.”

Advertisement

UK Industry Minister, Sarah Jones commented: “Today’s news is a major boost for communities in South Wales, delivering high-skilled opportunities for local people, and will help Welsh steelmaking to drive growth and attract further investment as part of our Plan for Change.”  

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “We have supported Tata Steel with £500m to safeguard Welsh steelmaking and I’m pleased that the company is itself investing in the local supply chain, securing hundreds of jobs and driving economic growth.

“It is fantastic news for the South Wales economy that local firms have secured these major contracts to deliver the transformation of steelmaking at Port Talbot.”

Lloyd Bryant, Head of Infrastructure & Amenities, Tata Steel, concluded: “The expertise of these long-standing contractors is key to the success of our transformation. 

“We look forward to collaborating with them, under Sir Robert McAlpine’s supervision, to safeguard the future of sustainable steelmaking in the area, securing jobs and ensuring the long-term viability of steelmaking in Wales for generations.”

Advertisement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxsEV-Y1Ys

#AndrewScottLtd #construction #DarlowLloydSons #industry #PortTalbot #PortTalbotSteelworks #steelworks #TataSteel #WernickBuildings

Over ‘300 skilled jobs’ secured for Port Talbot Steel works green transition plan

Tata Steel say the new jobs in the local supply chain will be part of new contracts signed with Bridgend-based companies Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Wernick Buildings, and Swansea-based business, Andrew Scott Ltd. 

Darlow Lloyd & Sons will play a key role in the initial phases of the project, overseeing excavation, recycling, infrastructure, and drainage works essential to the site’s transition to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking.

Director, Rhys Lloyd, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership which will boost employment across Neath Port Talbot and lay the foundation for future growth across the manufacturing sector.

“Our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site.

“This collaboration safeguards our experienced workforce and allows us to appoint local experts with transferable skillsets to this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

Advertisement

Critical infrastructure, including the construction of a new scrap yard to manage the inflow of UK-sourced used steel as a feedstock for the new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), will be completed by Andrew Scott Ltd. 

David Evan Williams, Civil Contracts Director said: “Having worked major on civil and construction projects at Port Talbot since the late 1800s, our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site. 

“We have committed to supporting local talent, ensuring that we fill positions with our skilled workforce, alongside experienced former Tata Steel workers and experts in the supply chain. As work progresses, we aim to provide further opportunities for individuals in surrounding communities to help deliver this exciting vision.”

Ben Wernick, Managing Director, Wernick Buildings added: “We are thrilled to bring our wealth of experience in the modular construction sector to deliver the centrepiece of Port Talbot’s contractor village; an 8500 square metre space spanning three buildings, comprised of offices and welfare zones.

“90% of the workers we employ to build this impressive space will be from communities surrounding the steelworks – spanning Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff – allowing us to nurture and grow regional talent.”

Advertisement

UK Industry Minister, Sarah Jones commented: “Today’s news is a major boost for communities in South Wales, delivering high-skilled opportunities for local people, and will help Welsh steelmaking to drive growth and attract further investment as part of our Plan for Change.”  

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “We have supported Tata Steel with £500m to safeguard Welsh steelmaking and I’m pleased that the company is itself investing in the local supply chain, securing hundreds of jobs and driving economic growth.

“It is fantastic news for the South Wales economy that local firms have secured these major contracts to deliver the transformation of steelmaking at Port Talbot.”

Lloyd Bryant, Head of Infrastructure & Amenities, Tata Steel, concluded: “The expertise of these long-standing contractors is key to the success of our transformation. 

“We look forward to collaborating with them, under Sir Robert McAlpine’s supervision, to safeguard the future of sustainable steelmaking in the area, securing jobs and ensuring the long-term viability of steelmaking in Wales for generations.”

Advertisement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxsEV-Y1Ys

#AndrewScottLtd #construction #DarlowLloydSons #industry #PortTalbot #PortTalbotSteelworks #steelworks #TataSteel #WernickBuildings

Over ‘300 skilled jobs’ secured for Port Talbot Steel works green transition plan

Tata Steel say the new jobs in the local supply chain will be part of new contracts signed with Bridgend-based companies Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Wernick Buildings, and Swansea-based business, Andrew Scott Ltd. 

Darlow Lloyd & Sons will play a key role in the initial phases of the project, overseeing excavation, recycling, infrastructure, and drainage works essential to the site’s transition to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking.

Director, Rhys Lloyd, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership which will boost employment across Neath Port Talbot and lay the foundation for future growth across the manufacturing sector.

“Our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site.

“This collaboration safeguards our experienced workforce and allows us to appoint local experts with transferable skillsets to this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

Advertisement

Critical infrastructure, including the construction of a new scrap yard to manage the inflow of UK-sourced used steel as a feedstock for the new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), will be completed by Andrew Scott Ltd. 

David Evan Williams, Civil Contracts Director said: “Having worked major on civil and construction projects at Port Talbot since the late 1800s, our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site. 

“We have committed to supporting local talent, ensuring that we fill positions with our skilled workforce, alongside experienced former Tata Steel workers and experts in the supply chain. As work progresses, we aim to provide further opportunities for individuals in surrounding communities to help deliver this exciting vision.”

Ben Wernick, Managing Director, Wernick Buildings added: “We are thrilled to bring our wealth of experience in the modular construction sector to deliver the centrepiece of Port Talbot’s contractor village; an 8500 square metre space spanning three buildings, comprised of offices and welfare zones.

“90% of the workers we employ to build this impressive space will be from communities surrounding the steelworks – spanning Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff – allowing us to nurture and grow regional talent.”

Advertisement

UK Industry Minister, Sarah Jones commented: “Today’s news is a major boost for communities in South Wales, delivering high-skilled opportunities for local people, and will help Welsh steelmaking to drive growth and attract further investment as part of our Plan for Change.”  

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “We have supported Tata Steel with £500m to safeguard Welsh steelmaking and I’m pleased that the company is itself investing in the local supply chain, securing hundreds of jobs and driving economic growth.

“It is fantastic news for the South Wales economy that local firms have secured these major contracts to deliver the transformation of steelmaking at Port Talbot.”

Lloyd Bryant, Head of Infrastructure & Amenities, Tata Steel, concluded: “The expertise of these long-standing contractors is key to the success of our transformation. 

“We look forward to collaborating with them, under Sir Robert McAlpine’s supervision, to safeguard the future of sustainable steelmaking in the area, securing jobs and ensuring the long-term viability of steelmaking in Wales for generations.”

Advertisement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxsEV-Y1Ys

#AndrewScottLtd #construction #DarlowLloydSons #industry #PortTalbot #PortTalbotSteelworks #steelworks #TataSteel #WernickBuildings

Over ‘300 skilled jobs’ secured for Port Talbot Steel works green transition plan

Tata Steel say the new jobs in the local supply chain will be part of new contracts signed with Bridgend-based companies Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Wernick Buildings, and Swansea-based business, Andrew Scott Ltd. 

Darlow Lloyd & Sons will play a key role in the initial phases of the project, overseeing excavation, recycling, infrastructure, and drainage works essential to the site’s transition to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking.

Director, Rhys Lloyd, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership which will boost employment across Neath Port Talbot and lay the foundation for future growth across the manufacturing sector.

“Our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site.

“This collaboration safeguards our experienced workforce and allows us to appoint local experts with transferable skillsets to this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

Advertisement

Critical infrastructure, including the construction of a new scrap yard to manage the inflow of UK-sourced used steel as a feedstock for the new Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), will be completed by Andrew Scott Ltd. 

David Evan Williams, Civil Contracts Director said: “Having worked major on civil and construction projects at Port Talbot since the late 1800s, our involvement in this transformation is not only a privilege, but fundamental to maintaining our strong presence and heritage at the site. 

“We have committed to supporting local talent, ensuring that we fill positions with our skilled workforce, alongside experienced former Tata Steel workers and experts in the supply chain. As work progresses, we aim to provide further opportunities for individuals in surrounding communities to help deliver this exciting vision.”

Ben Wernick, Managing Director, Wernick Buildings added: “We are thrilled to bring our wealth of experience in the modular construction sector to deliver the centrepiece of Port Talbot’s contractor village; an 8500 square metre space spanning three buildings, comprised of offices and welfare zones.

“90% of the workers we employ to build this impressive space will be from communities surrounding the steelworks – spanning Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff – allowing us to nurture and grow regional talent.”

Advertisement

UK Industry Minister, Sarah Jones commented: “Today’s news is a major boost for communities in South Wales, delivering high-skilled opportunities for local people, and will help Welsh steelmaking to drive growth and attract further investment as part of our Plan for Change.”  

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “We have supported Tata Steel with £500m to safeguard Welsh steelmaking and I’m pleased that the company is itself investing in the local supply chain, securing hundreds of jobs and driving economic growth.

“It is fantastic news for the South Wales economy that local firms have secured these major contracts to deliver the transformation of steelmaking at Port Talbot.”

Lloyd Bryant, Head of Infrastructure & Amenities, Tata Steel, concluded: “The expertise of these long-standing contractors is key to the success of our transformation. 

“We look forward to collaborating with them, under Sir Robert McAlpine’s supervision, to safeguard the future of sustainable steelmaking in the area, securing jobs and ensuring the long-term viability of steelmaking in Wales for generations.”

Advertisement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AxsEV-Y1Ys

#AndrewScottLtd #construction #DarlowLloydSons #industry #PortTalbot #PortTalbotSteelworks #steelworks #TataSteel #WernickBuildings