#coprbay — Public Fediverse posts

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

KINGSWAY: Beloved Welsh indie record shop Tangled Parrot moves between two regeneration sites as it picks new flagship location

One of Wales’s longest-running independent record shops is moving across Swansea city centre — and choosing a building delivered by the same housing association that owns its current location.

Tangled Parrot, founded by Matt Davies as a stall in Carmarthen Market in April 2000, is moving from its existing space on Swansea High Street to a dedicated standalone unit at 61 Kingsway. The new store is expected to open before the end of June.

Announcing the move on Instagram, Mr Davies described it as “the most difficult post I’ve had to make in 26 years of running Tangled Parrot” — a reflection of the difficult decision to close the original Carmarthen store at the same time.

A move between two Beacon regeneration sites

Both locations sit within the regeneration footprint of Beacon Cymru — the housing association formerly known as Coastal Housing, which has spent more than a decade rebuilding the commercial and residential offer along High Street and is now extending the same model to the Kingsway.

Beacon’s £100 million-plus High Street investment programme has steadily brought derelict and underused buildings back into use through mixed-tenure schemes, anchoring what is now known as the High Street Urban Village.

The Kingsway location continues the same pattern. Work began in September 2024 to transform the long-vacant former McDonalds at 61 Kingsway — closed since 2010 — into seven apartments for social rent across the upper floors, with two ground floor commercial units fronting onto the Kingsway and Park Street respectively. Tangled Parrot is taking the Kingsway-facing unit.

Beacon Cymru’s then regeneration manager Andrew Parry-Jones said at the time that the McDonalds redevelopment would be the first in a series of city centre projects. Tangled Parrot is now the first significant commercial tenant to take that space.

A bigger Swansea presence

Mr Davies explained the choice of unit on Instagram. “61 Kingsway — a more central location than our current shop on High Street,” he wrote. “There will also be a café space which will be run by a friend… allowing us to do more frequent and bigger events in the shop space.”

The Kingsway location is substantially larger than the previous space at Alleyway Coffee on High Street, allowing Tangled Parrot to run more frequent and bigger events in its own dedicated venue.

Mr Davies framed the move as a deliberate strategic shift. “I’m looking on it overall as a positive move allowing the business to become more focused, to expand our online operation and to collaborate on events with other like-minded folk in the Swansea area,” he wrote.

The shop is known for stocking both new and second-hand records and CDs, with an emphasis on music from the fringes — and sometimes extremes — of the industry, rather than mainstream chart releases.

A growing independent cluster

Tangled Parrot joins what is now a noticeable cluster of independent businesses along the Kingsway. The Bunkhouse — the independent music venue, hostel and café — has already welcomed the news on social media, jokingly offering to lend their new neighbours sugar.

The Kingsway has been the focus of one of the most significant city centre regeneration programmes in Swansea’s recent history. The £1 billion Copr Bay scheme at the street’s eastern end has been the most visible component, but a quieter pattern of housing-association-led mixed-use redevelopment is reshaping the street’s western stretch.

The arrival of a 26-year-old indie record store reflects the growing confidence in the street’s independent commercial offer — a different proposition to the chain-driven retail of the Quadrant Shopping Centre or out-of-town parks like Parc Fforestfach.

The Carmarthen back-story

The Swansea move comes alongside the closure of the original Carmarthen shop, where the business began.

Mr Davies has described the decision to leave Carmarthen as one that took nearly two years to reach. “I have a lot of attachment to Carmarthen,” he wrote. “The town has been good to myself and the shop, and it also nurtured the venue The Parrot before the established CWRW. I’ve made a great many friends in the town and surrounding areas through the shop and I will miss it.”

He cited wider economic pressures as the underlying driver. “The last few years have been difficult in many ways not least economically with the pressures that all retail businesses face nowadays — rising costs across the board and the changing shopping habits affecting basic footfall,” he wrote.

The Carmarthen store will close on 30 May 2026 after a closing sale to lighten the load before the move. A separate Tangled Parrot location in Hay-on-Wye will continue trading unaffected.

The Carmarthen closure leaves a gap in the town’s independent music scene — though Mr Davies has suggested that Dales Music Store, currently based in Tenby, may be planning a move to fill it.

Closing dates and farewell

Tangled Parrot will close its Swansea High Street location for the final time on Wednesday 27 May, with the Carmarthen store remaining open through to the 30 May final day. Both stores will operate normal opening hours in the meantime.

In a video posted to Instagram, longstanding team member Rich shared an emotional farewell to the Carmarthen shop ahead of its closure, reflecting on what the store had meant to him and to customers over the years — and recalling earlier Tangled Parrot homes including the original market stall in 2000 and a previous Bridge Street location, before the current King Street unit. The new Swansea store is expected to open sometime in June.

A win for Beacon, a win for Swansea

For Swansea, the arrival is a clear win. An independent business with 26 years of history, a loyal customer base across south Wales, and a niche cultural offer that’s hard to replicate is choosing the city centre at exactly the moment the Kingsway is finding its post-regeneration identity.

It’s also a small but telling win for Beacon Cymru’s slow-build approach to city centre regeneration. The housing association now anchors much of High Street’s commercial offer, has delivered the first major Kingsway commercial space since the Copr Bay phase, and has retained one of its longstanding tenants through that transition rather than losing it.

Signing off his Instagram announcement, Mr Davies quoted a phrase associated with the late DJ and producer Andrew Weatherall: “Fail we may, sail we must.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Kingsway revival continues as work starts on former McDonalds site
Our September 2024 report on the start of work at the 61 Kingsway redevelopment.

The £100m investment that’s transforming Swansea’s High Street
Our March 2024 feature on Beacon Cymru’s wider High Street programme.

Copr Bay coverage from Swansea Bay News
Our ongoing reporting on the £1 billion city centre regeneration scheme.

#BeaconCymru #Bunkhouse #CoastalHousing #CoprBay #Kingsway #regeneration #retail #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #TangledParrot

One Million Cheers! Arena smashes visitor record as stars flock to city

The milestone highlights the arena’s rapid rise as a major draw for live events, conferences, and community gatherings, contributing significantly to the city’s ongoing regeneration efforts.

The venue, a central component of the Copr Bay development, was built by Swansea Council and received part-funding from the Swansea Bay City Deal. It is operated by ATG Entertainment.

Swansea Council Leader Cllr Rob Stewart commented on the achievement: “Welcoming one million visitors in just a few years is a fantastic milestone for the Swansea Building Society Arena.”

He added that the arena has “quickly established itself as one of the most important cultural and economic assets in our city, attracting audiences from across Wales and beyond.”

Beyond the headline acts, the arena also hosts a variety of other events, including exhibitions, graduations, and local community activities, which are credited with increasing footfall and activity in the Copr Bay area.

Matt Blackhouse, Venue Director (left), and Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council (right), discuss the arena’s success. (Image: Swansea Council)

Matt Blackhouse, Venue Director at the Swansea Building Society Arena, acknowledged the diverse programming: “Reaching the one million visitor mark is a huge moment for the arena which reflects the wide range of events that have taken place here since opening.”

He noted that the venue has hosted “live music, comedy, theatre, conferences, banquets and graduations, as well as creative learning activities and community events.”

Since its opening, the arena has attracted numerous high-profile performers, including The Manic Street Preachers, Bob Dylan, and Wet Wet Wet. Comedians such as John Bishop have also performed, alongside touring productions like Riverdance and Mamma Mia.

A large crowd enjoys a performance inside the Swansea Building Society Arena. (Image: Swansea Council)

Upcoming events for 2026 and beyond include performances by 10cc, comedian Russell Howard, and Ocean Colour Scene, indicating a continued busy schedule for the venue.

The arena’s success is frequently cited by the local authority as evidence of the positive impact of investment in cultural infrastructure on the city’s economy and reputation.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Jack Whitehall announces Swansea date on huge 2027 arena tour
Another major name added to the growing list of acts choosing Swansea for big‑ticket shows.

Swansea Arena nears million milestone as star acts line up
The venue edges towards a landmark year as more high‑profile performers head to the city.

Squeeze set for Swansea Arena date on 2026 UK tour
The latest addition to a packed touring calendar bringing big‑name music back to Swansea.

Swansea events venue changes name in multi‑year partnership
A major rebrand for the city’s flagship venue as it strengthens its long‑term future.

#Arena #comedy #CoprBay #entertainment #events #Music #regeneration #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaBuildingSocietyArena #SwanseaCouncil #Visitors

NEXT STEP FOR CITY CENTRE: Work begins at former St David’s site for major new office development

The scheme is expected to bring hundreds of workers back into the heart of the city, providing a significant boost in footfall and spending for local businesses. The Council claims the development will follow the success of other recent projects, such as 71/72 Kingsway and the Y Storfa community hub, which are already delivering increased activity to the area.

‘More than Bricks and Mortar’

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, hailed the move as a vital part of the city’s long-term regeneration. He argued that the development is about more than just construction; it is about creating the economic conditions for the city to thrive.

“This is another major step forward in our long-term plan to regenerate Swansea city centre and create the conditions for more jobs, more investment and more opportunities for local businesses,” said Cllr Stewart.

“Developments like this are about far more than bricks and mortar. By bringing hundreds of workers into the city centre every day, we’re increasing footfall and spending power for our existing traders. That in turn helps create the confidence and demand needed to attract new shops, cafés and other businesses.”

Addressing High Street Challenges

The Council Leader acknowledged the ongoing challenges facing traditional high streets, particularly from the rise of online shopping. He stated that the “reality” is that businesses will only invest in Swansea if the footfall figures justify it.

Cllr Stewart added:

“The reality is that shops and other businesses will only choose to open in Swansea if the city centre footfall figures show it’s worth their investment. Schemes like this directly strengthen that case and help ensure our city centre has a strong and sustainable future.”

Essential Site Investigations

The site investigation works currently under way are described by the Council as a “routine and essential part” of major construction projects. These works will inform the detailed design and ensure the site is fully prepared before the main build works begin.

The Council believes that by bringing hundreds of new workers into the city centre daily, the local authority will see a measurable increase in spending at nearby shops, cafes, and services, ensuring the city heart remains resilient and thriving.

#CllrRobStewart #CoprBay #CoprBayPhase2 #newOffices #PorthCopr #StDavidSShoppingCentre #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil

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

Swansea arena nears million milestone as star acts line up

Packed crowds and star power

Figures released this week show the arena has already drawn over 245,000 visits in 2025 alone, with audiences flocking to see the likes of the Manic Street Preachers, Wet Wet Wet, John Bishop, Riverdance and even a nostalgic night with The Fast Show.

The venue, developed by Swansea Council and part‑funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, is run by ATG Entertainment. As well as concerts, it has become a hub for conferences, banquets, graduations and creative learning events.

What’s next

The line‑up for 2026 is already turning heads. Kaiser Chiefs, 10cc and Russell Howard are all booked, while UB40 and Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals will bring more variety to the stage.

But the biggest buzz surrounds Mamma Mia, which lands in January with 15 performances and the highest predicted ticket sales for any single show at the arena to date. Fans of Gavin & Stacey will also get their fix when James Corden and Ruth Jones appear in When Gavin Met Stacey, sharing behind‑the‑scenes secrets from Barry Island to Billericay.

Kaiser Chiefs advertised on the digital screen on the side of Swansea’s Arena
(Image: Swansea Council)

Civic pride

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:

“The Swansea Building Society Arena has quickly established itself as one of the city’s most significant cultural and economic assets. Since opening, it has played a vital role in transforming the Copr Bay district into a vibrant destination, drawing audiences from across Wales and beyond.”

He added that the arena has strengthened Swansea’s reputation as a home for major touring acts while also providing a platform for local artists and community events.

Venue director’s view

Matt Blackhouse, Venue Director, said:

“Since joining the arena team in June this year, it’s been great to see the variety of shows and events we’ve hosted — from three sold‑out nights with Bob Dylan to multi‑day conferences and banquets for over 600 people. With plenty more acts still to be announced, we’re excited to continue bringing top class entertainment to the region and putting Swansea firmly on the map.”

Crowds enjoy the show inside Swansea Building Society Arena
(Image: Swansea Council)

From opening night to cultural hub

Since its launch in March 2022, the arena has been hailed as a catalyst for Copr Bay’s regeneration, shortlisted for architecture awards and praised as a test bed for digital innovation. With visitor numbers now closing in on the million mark, the venue is proving to be both a cultural powerhouse and an economic boost for the city.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea events venue changes name in multi-year partnership
The arena became the Swansea Building Society Arena under a new naming deal.

Figures show arena success since opening
Visitor numbers exceeded projections in the first year of operation.

Swansea Arena shortlisted for top architecture award
The venue’s striking design earned national recognition.

Arena generates visitor and jobs boost for city
Figures showed the arena’s impact on Swansea’s economy and employment.

#ATG #CllrRobStewart #comedy #concerts #Conferences #CoprBay #KaiserChiefs #MammaMia #ManicStreetPreachers #Music #RussellHoward #Swansea #SwanseaArena #SwanseaBuildingSocietyArena #UB40 #WetWetWet