#swansea-council — Public Fediverse posts

SWANSEA: Rain gardens spreading through Sandfields streets as second phase of flood-busting scheme takes root

Swansea’s rain garden programme is expanding, with new planting and pedestrian improvements now under way at Phillips Parade and Rodney Street in the Sandfields and St Helen’s area — adding to work already completed outside St Helen’s Primary School.

The scheme was first installed outside the school last year, where trees and shrubs were planted to soak up surface water after heavy rain, alongside improved paving and dropped kerbs to help pupils, parents and residents get around on foot, by bike or by scooter. The latest phase extends those improvements to new locations across the neighbourhood, with a further rain garden also installed at the end of Burrows Road, adjacent to Oystermouth Road.

Rain gardens work by capturing water runoff from roads and pavements before it can pool or cause flooding. The plants, shrubs and specially designed soil absorb the water, filtering out pollutants before they can reach local waterways — protecting the ecosystems that depend on them.

They also provide year-round food and shelter for pollinators including bees and butterflies, and bring seasonal colour to streets that might otherwise feel hard and grey. The combination of flood mitigation, biodiversity benefit and improved aesthetics in a single scheme has made rain gardens an increasingly popular tool for councils looking to improve urban environments on limited budgets.

The improvements form part of Swansea Council’s bid to introduce better walking and cycling infrastructure across the city, following a successful grant application to the Welsh Government’s Active Travel programme. Earlier reporting revealed that around £160,000 was invested in the first phase of the Sandfields scheme, with additional funding drawn from the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature fund and Natural Resources Wales.

The latest works were developed with community regeneration experts Urban Foundry, who worked with residents and local businesses to shape the plans. Consultation with the community was carried out before work began, with the scheme designed to reflect local needs and priorities.

Urban Foundry — who are also behind the recently opened Swansea Pottery Collective studio on Alexandra Road — have become a familiar presence in projects that look to transform underused or underperforming spaces across Swansea city centre and surrounding areas.

Stuart Davies, Head of Service for Transport and Highways at Swansea Council, said the measures were delivering a range of benefits for local communities. “These innovative measures are providing local communities with a range of benefits where links between streets for walkers and cyclists are improved,” he said.

“The introduction of rain gardens also provides a green and sustainable solution for spots within communities where standing water can occur during heavy rainfall,” he added.

The Sandfields programme is one of several active travel and green infrastructure projects the council has been delivering across the city. Previous coverage has highlighted similar improvements elsewhere in Swansea, as the council works towards its wider vision of developing greener spaces, cleaner air and lower carbon emissions in communities across the city.

The rain garden and active travel work in Sandfields follows a pattern that has been replicated across south-west Wales — with Carmarthenshire councils also receiving funding in the same grant rounds to deliver drainage and active travel improvements in their communities.

Work is ongoing at Phillips Parade, Rodney Street and Burrows Road. Residents can expect the planting to develop through the coming months as the gardens establish — with the full colour and wildlife benefits expected to be most visible by late summer and into autumn.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Rain gardens installed to tackle flooding in Swansea’s Sandfields
Our coverage of the first phase of rain garden installations outside St Helen’s Primary School.

Rain gardens and car park revamps: £100k drainage grants to tackle flooding in Swansea and Carmarthenshire
The grant funding behind the Sandfields scheme and similar projects across south-west Wales.

City streets’ new green feature aims to help combat climate challenge
Earlier coverage of Swansea’s green infrastructure ambitions.

SWANSEA: Schoolfriends reunited as Cllr Penny Matthews becomes Lord Mayor — 60 years after they sat in the same classroom

Swansea councillor Penny Matthews has been inaugurated as the city’s new Lord Mayor at a ceremony held at the Guildhall this morning — with her old schoolfriend Cllr Susan Jones taking up the role of Deputy Lord Mayor on the same day.

The pair were in the same class at Swansea Secondary Technical School for Girls as teenagers — the building that now houses Gower College Swansea’s Llwyn y Bryn Campus — making their joint elevation to the city’s top civic roles all the more remarkable.

Cllr Matthews, who has represented Llansamlet ward since 2007, said she was hugely honoured by the appointment.

“It is a huge honour to be serving the communities of Swansea as their Lord Mayor in the coming year,” she said. “I am really looking forward to getting out and about among the people of this fantastic city, as well as representing Swansea to visitors as our communities’ civic ambassador at a very exciting time.”

She added that the coincidence of her and Cllr Jones being honoured together in the same year was almost too good to believe.

“It’s uncanny that Cllr Jones and I should be honoured in such a way in the same year since we’ve known each other for so long and studied together all those years ago,” she said.

Cllr Jones represents Gowerton ward on Swansea Council and is also a community councillor in the area.

The chains of office were handed over by outgoing Lord Mayor Cllr Cheryl Philpott, who paid tribute to Cllr Matthews’s contribution as Deputy Lord Mayor during the past year — before Cllr Matthews in turn thanked her predecessor for her “energy and commitment” during her time in office.

Cllr Matthews was born and brought up in Swansea, attending Manselton Primary School before passing the 11-plus and moving on to the technical school for girls. Her first job was a Saturday shift on the makeup counter at Woolworths on Oxford Street, followed by a stint at the Steel Company of Wales in Velindre, and then four years managing the office at DC Francis Coal Merchants.

She later worked as a booking clerk and union representative at the Goods Vehicle Centre on the Strand — and has been a governor at Trallwn Primary School since 1995, supporting the school through committees and events for more than three decades.

Her nominated charity for the year ahead is arthritis research, supporting the St David’s Medical Foundation Charity based at Swansea University.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the Council Chamber — part of the Grade 1 listed Guildhall complex in Swansea, which is also home to the Brangwyn Hall. Pupils from Trallwn Primary School — where Cllr Matthews has been a governor since 1995 — performed as a choir, a fitting touch for a Lord Mayor whose connection to the school stretches back more than three decades.

Cllr Matthews said she was grateful for the good wishes she had received ahead of the ceremony.

“I want to say thank-you to everyone for all their good wishes for my year in office,” she said. “The year ahead promises to be a very exciting one.”

Cllr Matthews takes up the role at a time when Swansea is in the midst of significant regeneration — with the Kingsway development winning national awards this week, the former Debenhams building sold, and major investment continuing along the waterfront. Her year as civic ambassador will take place against a backdrop of a city that is changing fast.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Lord Mayor of Swansea — all our coverage
Previous Lord Mayor stories from Swansea Bay News.

Brangwyn Hall stories from Swansea Bay News
The latest news from Swansea’s iconic Grade 1 listed civic venue.

SWANSEA: Kingsway office block on old Oceana nightclub site named most impressive commercial workplace in South of England and Wales

Generations of Swansea revellers knew 71/72 The Kingsway as Oceana — one of the city’s biggest nightclubs. Now the site has won two national awards as one of the most impressive new office buildings in the South of England and South Wales.

71/72 Kingsway — the striking glass and concrete building that replaced the former nightclub — took home both the Commercial Workplace award and the Innovation award at the British Council for Offices South of England & South Wales Awards, held in Bristol on Wednesday night.

It was the only building in the competition to win two categories — beating schemes in Penzance, Maidenhead, Bracknell and Bristol to claim the double. It is also the only Welsh winner in this year’s competition.

Judges said the building “stood out for its seamless integration of architectural quality, sustainability, and user-focused innovation” — and called it “an enabler for future regeneration of Swansea city centre, with multiple active frontages, new routes, and a bold architectural approach.”

Swansea Council built the development — partly funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal — with the ambition of turning The Kingsway into a proper business district. The numbers suggest it is working. Around 80% of the office space is already let, and the council estimates that once fully occupied, the building could create up to 600 jobs and contribute £32.6 million to the city’s economy every year.

The building is already filling up fast. Global workspace giant IWG — which runs Regus — signed for 20,000 sq ft earlier this year, joining TUI, Amazon-owned Veeqo, Optical Express, sk:n clinic and Futures First as tenants.

Harry Allen, chair of the judging panel and director at Savills, said what stood out about this year’s winners was their impact beyond the workplace itself.

“From revitalising town centres and supporting local economies to redefining the role of the modern office, each scheme demonstrates how far the sector has evolved,” he said. “Collectively, they reflect a growing emphasis on sustainability, wellbeing and creating workspaces with a strong sense of place.”

BCO chief executive Samantha McClary said the Swansea win was proof that reports of the death of the office had been greatly exaggerated.

“Vibrant, impactful, enablers, drivers of economic growth — this is exactly what our workspaces are,” she said. “The idea that the office is dead is most definitely fake news.”

Inside, the building is as striking as its exterior. A stepped timber forum runs the length of the ground floor, lit by dozens of circular pendant lights. A sculptural spiral staircase connects the upper floors. A rooftop terrace — where Swansea’s big wheel is visible on the skyline — sits above it all.

The award is the latest piece of good news for Swansea’s city centre regeneration. The former Debenhams building — long a symbol of high street decline — was sold earlier this month to Quadrant owners Centurion, with three major new tenants expected to be named soon.

71/72 Kingsway now goes forward to the BCO National Awards on 6 October 2026 at Grosvenor House in London — competing against regional winners from across the UK for the top national prizes.

The building sits at the heart of a Kingsway that looks very different to the one that hosted Oceana, Top Rank and a succession of entertainment venues across the decades — and the council’s bet that offices, not nightclubs, are the future of the street appears to be paying off.

Work is already under way on a further major office development at the former St David’s Shopping Centre site nearby, with Swansea’s transformation as a modern commercial centre gathering pace on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Global workspace giant IWG takes huge 20,000 sq ft at booming Kingsway development
The latest big name to sign up at 71/72 Kingsway — and what it means for the city centre.

SWANSEA: Debenhams building sold to Quadrant owners as three major new tenants set to be named ‘within days’
More good news for Swansea city centre as the former Debenhams finds a new owner and new purpose.

All our 71/72 Kingsway coverage
From demolition of the old Oceana site to award-winning office block — the full story.

SWANSEA: Landore Park and Ride set to move across the road — as funding approved for design study of new Alamein Road site

The Landore Park and Ride is set to move — but not far. Funding has been approved through the Regional Transport Fund for a WelTAG stage 2 study to look at design proposals for a new facility on Alamein Road, just across from the existing site.

Alamein Road is an industrial estate immediately opposite the Swansea.com Stadium — placing the proposed new Park and Ride right at the heart of what is rapidly becoming one of the most intensively developed parts of Swansea.

A WelTAG stage 2 study is the Welsh Government’s standard process for developing detailed design proposals for transport schemes. The funding covers that design work only — no planning application has yet been submitted, no decision has been made, and no opening date has been set.

The Landore Park and Ride has been serving Swansea since at least 2002 and has become an established part of the city’s transport network. Parking costs just £1 a day for a car and up to four passengers. The site is served by the number 52 bus, operated by First Cymru and subsidised by Swansea Council, which runs every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday linking the site to Swansea railway station, Kingsway and the bus station.

However, the service has been struggling. A report before the council’s scrutiny programme committee earlier this year revealed the combined operating budget for Swansea’s two park and ride sites — Landore and Fabian Way — was £693,300 in 2024-25, but income was only £89,637 — a drop from £100,734 the previous year. Cheap city centre car parking was identified as one of the reasons for the low take-up.

The report also noted that capacity at the Landore site had already been reduced due to development work nearby — and that alternative locations were being explored. That process has now resulted in the Alamein Road design study.

The reason for the potential move is significant. The existing Landore site has been identified as the preferred location for the basecamp for the Skyline cable car project — the proposal to take visitors up Kilvey Hill — meaning the current Park and Ride would need to relocate to make way for it.

Construction at the Landore site has now formally begun — as Skyline Swansea confirmed today that earthworks are under way on Kilvey Hill and at the Park and Ride.

The area around the proposed new site is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Penderyn Distillery was handed the keys to the former Morfa Copperworks site — one of the most historically significant industrial landmarks in Wales — where they are developing a visitor centre that will draw tourists to this part of the city.

The copperworks restoration has yielded internationally significant archaeological discoveries and a Welsh business has been chosen to bring new life to its heritage buildings.

Nearby, the historic 70-tonne Bascule Bridge has been restored and a new £8m riverside cycle and walking path is being constructed linking the city centre to the stadium along the riverbank.

At the stadium itself, Swansea City have plans for a major fan zone for more than 1,700 supporters — complete with self-pour beer taps, a big screen and a bierkeller vibe — which would significantly increase the number of people visiting the area on matchdays.

A well-placed Park and Ride at Alamein Road could serve not just everyday commuters but the growing number of visitors drawn to the stadium, Penderyn’s visitor centre, the copperworks heritage site and whatever else emerges from this part of Swansea in the years ahead.

A new Park and Ride in this location would also need to be designed with that emerging visitor economy in mind — not just as a commuter car park, but as a gateway to a corner of the city being rapidly reimagined.

The WelTAG design study will inform what the new facility might look like and whether it is viable before any further steps are taken. There is no guarantee that a planning application will follow, and any eventual scheme would need to go through the full planning process.

SWANSEA: First look at the new Swansea Market entrance as makeover works progress on Union Street

Swansea Market’s long-awaited makeover is now visible to anyone walking past on Union Street, with the market’s new entrance design emerging from behind the hoardings.

The market confirmed on Tuesday that the Union Street entrance has been partially reopened while lower-level works continue — meaning shoppers can once again access the market from that side as the transformation progresses.

The new design features a bold geometric canopy in orange and brown tones, a striking new bilingual fascia reading “Marchnad Abertawe / Swansea Market”, and illuminated signage with a distinctive fan-shaped logo — a far cry from the tired exterior that had greeted shoppers for years.

The reaction from inside the market has been positive. Storm In A Teacup Coffee House, one of the market’s well-known traders, said simply: “Looks great.” Fellow trader Rachel Jones added: “I’m sure our customers will see the difference.”

The design was chosen by the public in a vote held last year, after Swansea Council launched a consultation giving shoppers a say in what the new entrances should look like. Hundreds of people took part, with the geometric stained-glass-inspired canopy proving the overwhelming favourite from a shortlist of three options developed with Wales-based consultants Tangent Partnership.

Council cabinet member and joint deputy leader David Hopkins said at the time that the new entrances would make the market “smarter, more visible and vibrant” and help attract customers. He also said the work would improve security and help deter anti-social behaviour.

Work is continuing on the market’s other entrances on Oxford Street and Whitewalls, with the same design set to be applied across all three entry points once the full programme of works is complete.

The entrance revamp is the latest in a sustained programme of investment in the market over recent years. In recent years the council has invested in new public toilets at the award-winning market and introduced the Market Garden, a popular spot to eat, meet and enjoy events. Wikipedia

The Market Garden was created following a public consultation and opened in late 2021 as a new space at the heart of the venue where shoppers could eat, meet friends and enjoy themselves. It quickly became one of the market’s most popular features.

The investment in the market’s facilities has helped cement its reputation as one of the best in Britain. Swansea Market was judged Britain’s Best Large Indoor Market in 2024 by the National Association of British Market Authorities — the third time it had won the title, following previous victories in 2015 and 2020. It has also been ranked in the top two in the UK.

Wayne Holmes, chair of the Swansea Market Traders Federation, said when the award was announced: “It’s great that the market has won this award. Recognition like this helps make all the hard work of our traders feel really worthwhile.”

The entrance works also form part of the wider Future Swansea vision for the city centre, which sets out plans to make Swansea Market a destination in its own right — with better links to the Quadrant and surrounding streets forming part of a decade-long regeneration strategy.

That wider plan, which is expected to be adopted as council policy later in 2026, also includes a new transport hub, a potential cultural quarter and improvements to the Oxford Street arcades — all designed to drive footfall into the city centre.

The market sits at the heart of what the council calls the Core — the retail, leisure and nightlife centre of the city — and the entrance revamp is seen as a key part of making it more welcoming and visible from the surrounding streets.

Works at Union Street are ongoing, and shoppers have been thanked for their patience. The market remains fully open throughout the works, with business continuing as usual inside.

More on Swansea Market

Market entrances to get new look after public vote
How shoppers chose the winning design for the new-look entrances.

Swansea Market named one of Britain’s favourites
The market’s third national award win — and what the judges said.

Market shoppers enjoy taste of the market’s new attraction
When the Market Garden first opened its doors to visitors.

Swansea’s future mapped out: transport hub, market revamp and cultural quarter
The bigger picture — how the market fits into Swansea’s decade-long regeneration plan.

SWANSEA: ‘The first time they relaxed into a cuddle’ — foster carer shares the breakthrough moments that change young lives during Foster Care Fortnight

The first time a baby relaxes into a cuddle. The moment a withdrawn child begins to seek comfort. A routine that finally feels calm.

For foster carers in Swansea, these small moments can be the clearest sign of something much bigger — a child starting to feel safe.

Sarah Motley, who fosters babies and infants on a short-term basis with Foster Wales Swansea, has described what those breakthroughs mean in practice.

She recalled caring for a baby who arrived “very quiet and withdrawn” and said the first day was worrying because the child “didn’t cry or seek comfort, which felt unusual and quite worrying for a child that age.”

Over time, with a calm and consistent approach, she began to see small but important changes. “They slowly became more responsive and eventually began to seek comfort,” she said. “The first time they relaxed into a cuddle was incredibly special — it felt like the moment they realised they were safe and could trust.”

A national survey commissioned by Foster Wales found around 80% of foster carers have supported children displaying trauma-related behaviours such as anxiety, emotional shutdown or intense reactions. Half said they noticed a meaningful breakthrough within the first six months, while 93% said they are now confident in responding to trauma-related behaviour.

Sarah said fostering has deepened her understanding of why children come into care and challenged some of her previous assumptions, giving her “greater compassion for both children and their birth families.” She said the support available through Foster Wales Swansea — including a dedicated social worker, training, and a community of other fostering families — is essential.

“Fostering can be both rewarding and challenging, and knowing there is always someone to guide and reassure you makes a huge difference,” she said. “There is also a wide range of training available, both online and in person, which I really value.”

Foster Wales Swansea is keen to dispel some of the common myths that put people off — you don’t need to own your home, be in a relationship, or give up work to foster. More than 140 local families currently foster with the service, and no two are the same. There is no upper age limit, and anyone who is an adult with the right commitment and maturity can apply.

Foster carers in Swansea receive a weekly child allowance ranging from £246 to £298 depending on the age of the child, which covers the child’s food, clothing and other needs. A separate carer’s fee is also paid on top to recognise the time, skills and experience involved — fostering is not a conventional job but a round-the-clock skilled vocation.

Foster Care Fortnight — the UK’s largest annual campaign to raise awareness of fostering — runs throughout May, with this year’s theme, This is Fostering, shining a spotlight on the real experiences of carers and the vital role they play.

Julie Davies, Swansea Council’s Head of Child and Family Services, said the council was proud of its foster carers and urged anyone thinking about fostering to get in touch. “There are many highs and there are lows to fostering and Foster Wales Swansea is absolutely committed to supporting our amazing foster carers on this journey,” she said.

Sarah’s message to anyone considering the role is simple. “You don’t have to have everything figured out — just being open to that first conversation is a great step,” she said.

The Foster Wales Swansea team will be at the following locations during Foster Care Fortnight: Morrisons Morfa on Tuesday 12 May, 9am–4pm; Little Man Coffee (SA1) on Wednesday 13 May, 10am–12.30pm; Singleton Hospital on Thursday 14 May, 11am–3pm; Tesco Fforestfach on Tuesday 19 May, 10am–3pm; and Y Storfa Library on Wednesday 20 May, 10am–1pm.

Anyone interested can also find out more at swansea.fosterwales.gov.wales.

SWANSEA: Cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies dies — tributes paid to ‘true Swansea legend’ after 43 years of service

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, one of the most prominent figures in Swansea public life, has died.

The Morriston councillor had served Swansea Council for 43 years and was cabinet member for investment, regeneration, tourism and events at the time of his death.

Cllr Rob Stewart announced the news on Friday morning, saying he had learned of it with huge sadness.

Mr Stewart described Francis-Davies — known affectionately as RFD — as “a true Swansea legend and an absolute force of nature who worked tirelessly for the people of Morriston and Swansea for 43 years.”

The council leader said his thoughts were with Francis-Davies’s family — named as Suzanne, Rebecca, Andrew and Rachel — at what he described as a deeply difficult time.

Mr Stewart credited Francis-Davies with helping oversee the building of the Swansea.com stadium and the National Waterfront Museum, saying he had delivered “such positive change” across his decades on the council.

He was also instrumental in bringing major events to the city, including Proms in the Park and the Wales Airshow, and was said to be a lifelong supporter of Swansea City AFC.

Francis-Davies was a proud advocate of the Swansea barrage and worked to ensure the continued development of the River Tawe corridor.

Mr Stewart said he was “an irreplaceable figure in the council” and that Swansea would not be the same without him.

Over four decades in the council chamber, Francis-Davies held a range of senior positions — including vice-chair of the housing committee, vice-chair of the finance committee, chair of the economic development committee and chair of the legal services committee.

Beyond his council work, he served as a past executive member of the Museums Association, chair of the Council of Museums in Wales, and board member of Les Rencontres — an organisation representing European cities of culture.

Morgans Hotel in Swansea was among the first organisations to pay tribute publicly, saying it was saddened to learn of his passing.

The hotel recalled that Francis-Davies had laid the foundation stone at the venue on 18 February 2002, and said it had always been grateful for his support over the years that followed.

Its flag was lowered to half-mast on Friday as a mark of respect, with the hotel describing him as a man who had done “so much for the city.”

Swansea City AFC also paid tribute, describing Francis-Davies as “a driving force in the plans for the ground coming to fruition.” The club said the thoughts of everyone at Swansea City were with his friends, family and colleagues at this very sad time.

Francis-Davies is survived by his wife Suzanne and their children Rebecca, Andrew and Rachel. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

MUMBLES: Plans unveiled for new £4.5m marine sports centre at Knab Rock — funded by 12 luxury flats on the site of the historic yacht club

Plans for a major new marine sports centre on the Mumbles waterfront have been submitted to Swansea Council – alongside proposals for 12 luxury flats on the site of the existing Mumbles Yacht Club to help fund the development.

The “Centre for Marine Sporting Excellence” would be built at Knab Rock, next to Verdi’s café, just yards from the popular slipway.

It would include training and coaching facilities for sailing, rowing and coastal sports, a tidal bathing pool, boat and equipment storage, public toilets, a Changing Places facility and flexible community rooms.

The centre would also house a 120-seater function room – described in the plans as suitable for conferences, training events and weddings.

But to help pay for it, the existing Mumbles Yacht Club building across Mumbles Road would be demolished – and replaced with 12 luxury mezzanine apartments above an undercroft car park.

Documents submitted to Swansea Council show that the apartments – 10 standard flats and two penthouse suites – would be expected to sell for between £500,000 and £650,000 each, generating an estimated £6.3 million to £6.5 million.

That money would help fund the marine centre, which is currently estimated to cost £4.5 million to build.

Mumbles Yacht Club, founded in the 1930s, is also home to Mumbles Rowing Club, founded in the 1880s – a centre of excellence for coastal sculling that attracts Team GB athletes.

Together, the clubs have around 350 to 400 members.

The yacht club has held a public consultation that drew more than 500 responses, with almost all in support of a new watersports centre, according to the club.

Commodore Richard Woffinden said the club was excited about the future. “There’s a long way to go but we are really excited about the future of Mumbles Yacht Club and our rowing club,” he said. “It would be great to be part of a centre where clubs of all sorts can work together to create opportunities for our community to join us on the water.”

The proposals also flag potential future ambitions for the site – including a half-tide harbour and a tidal swimming pool – as part of a wider vision for enhancing the Mumbles waterfront.

The club has indicated it may also explore grant funding to upgrade the proposed centre into a national-level coaching facility for Wales and the UK.

Plans submitted to the council acknowledge the significant constraints of the site.

The yacht club building lies within the Mumbles Conservation Area, while the proposed apartment site sits within the Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now known as the Gower National Landscape).

The flats would be partly built into the limestone cliff face – a designated Safeguarded Limestone Resource and an internationally recognised dark sky community, requiring strict controls on lighting.

The Grade II listed Bristol Channel Yacht Club sits just 30 metres away from the proposed apartment block, and the marine sports centre site is within Flood Zone 3 – meaning major flood risk constraints apply.

Council planning officers have responded with a mixed verdict on the proposals.

Officers said they applauded the aspirations to provide a new high-quality Centre for Marine Sporting Excellence, recognising its potential community and sporting benefits.

But they raised significant concerns about the principle of developing 12 luxury private flats on land that extends outside the Local Development Plan settlement boundary – which would normally only be permitted as “enabling development” with substantial heritage benefits.

The officers also said insufficient information had been provided to justify the scale, massing, siting and design of the buildings, or to demonstrate proper compliance with placemaking principles.

Concerns were also raised about lighting impacts on the Gower’s dark sky designation, parking levels, residential amenity, green infrastructure and the robustness of the proposed enabling development model.

The proposal also appears to be contrary to TAN 15 – Welsh Government planning guidance on flood risk.

The yacht club will now respond to the points raised, develop a business plan and explore funding in more detail.

The plans come at a time when several other major waterfront proposals are under development across Swansea Bay. A separate tidal pool is being proposed near the Civic Centre as part of a major transformation by Urban Splash, while Eden Project-style proposals from Xanadoo are also being explored for a Swansea site.

The application is currently at the pre-application stage with reference 2026/0063/PRE on Swansea Council’s planning portal.

A formal planning application is yet to be submitted.

SWANSEA: Plans to convert iconic Sandfields restaurant into 12-bedroom HMO complex submitted to council

Plans have been submitted to convert one of Sandfields’ best-known buildings – the late-Victorian Pantygwydr – into two Houses in Multiple Occupation totalling 12 bedrooms.

The pre-application planning notice has been lodged with Swansea Council, proposing the conversion of the historic corner property at the junction of Oxford Street and Richardson Street.

Under the proposals, the ground floor restaurant would become a 5-bedroom HMO, while the upper floors – currently used as four-bedroom owner’s accommodation – would be converted into a separate 7-bedroom HMO.

That would create 12 bedrooms in total across two HMOs at the building.

The building is currently home to the Pantygwydr restaurant, an independent French restaurant that has traded at the site since 2008 – nearly two decades.

It is currently still trading and taking bookings for 2026.

But the freehold of the property has now been listed for sale at £325,000 by Astleys Chartered Surveyors and is currently marked as Sold Subject to Contract.

The planning statement submitted to the council notes that the property has been marketed for several years without any demand for the existing restaurant use.

The Pantygwydr is a substantial late-Victorian building measuring 4,646 sq ft over three floors plus a basement.

Originally operated as the Pantygwydr Hotel, the building features classic Victorian architecture, strong corner frontage and period interior details including wood panelling and decorative cornices.

The basement is currently used as a beer cellar – a reminder of the building’s former life as a hotel and bar.

Under the proposals, no external alterations would be made to the property. A shared bike and refuse store would be created at ground floor level in the existing courtyard.

The application is significant in the context of HMO concentration in the Sandfields area – which has long been a focus of debate over the impact of high HMO numbers on community character and housing supply.

The site sits just outside Swansea Council’s HMO Management Area, where stricter rules apply. Outside that zone, planning policy permits HMO conversions provided they would not result in more than 10% of properties within a 50-metre radius being HMOs.

The applicant’s planning agents have calculated that there are currently three HMOs within 50 metres of the site, out of 59 properties in total. Approval of the application would create five HMOs in that radius – 8.47% of the local property stock, just below the 10% threshold.

The statement also argues that the property would generate significantly less parking demand as HMOs than as a restaurant – with the existing use estimated to require around 16 parking spaces, compared to seven for the proposed HMO use.

The application is currently at the pre-application stage, with reference number 2026/0329/PRE on the council’s planning portal. A formal planning application is yet to be submitted.

If submitted and approved, the conversion would mark the end of nearly 20 years of independent restaurant trade at the site – and the loss of one of Sandfields’ most distinctive hospitality venues.

The Pantygwydr restaurant remains open for bookings as planning discussions continue.

More from our property and rental coverage

‘No kids, no benefits’ rental bans become illegal next month – here’s what tenants and landlords need to know
The major change to Wales’ rental rules taking effect in June 2026.

Belvoir Swansea acquires The Greenrooms managed property portfolio
One of the city’s biggest recent rental sector deals – and what it tells us about the local market.

Swansea ranked one of the best UK cities to own a commercial property
Why investors are looking to Swansea – and what’s driving the interest in conversions.

Four local restaurants face closure as Whitbread axes up to 3,800 jobs across UK estate
The wider hospitality squeeze threatening high street venues across south-west Wales.

SWANSEA: Grade I listed Guildhall finally gets roof fix — after plastic sheeting and a bucket became a fixture in the foyer

Now Swansea Council has applied for listed building consent to fix the problem — replacing sections of the roof at the Guildhall with a new waterproof system designed to match work already completed on other parts of the building.

The Grade I listed Guildhall, built between 1930 and 1934 using Portland stone, has been plagued by water penetration despite its grand and sturdy appearance.

Leaks have been identified at multiple points across the building — including from a skylight above the law courts and from timber and metal frame windows in various locations.

The proposed works will see sections of roof above the law courts and the Brangwyn Hall replaced, along with new skylights and refurbished windows.

Some windows will be removed and taken away for specialist restoration off-site.

Re-pointing work is also planned as part of the application.

Discussions have already taken place with Welsh heritage body Cadw and the council’s own conservation officer ahead of the submission — reflecting the building’s protected status and the care required for any works on a Grade I listed structure.

A heritage impact assessment submitted alongside the application said the new roofing system would ensure the long-term water tightness of the building’s fabric.

The Guildhall was listed at Grade I in 1994 — the highest level of protection available in Wales, reserved for buildings of exceptional interest.

As well as housing council offices and law courts, it is home to the Brangwyn Hall — one of Wales’s finest art deco interiors, which hosts concerts, civic events and, most recently, Swansea Pride.

The hall is also a regular venue for election counts and declarations, including Friday’s Senedd results.

The building was extended twice after its original construction, with a central lawn built over during the later phases.

It has also been used as a film and television set on numerous occasions, with its distinctive clock tower and Portland stone facade lending itself to period productions.

The council said when the leaks were first reported last December that it was committed to rectifying the issue as quickly as possible.

The Guildhall and Brangwyn Hall

All our Guildhall coverage
Our full archive of stories about one of Swansea’s most iconic buildings.

All our Brangwyn Hall coverage
News, events and features from the magnificent art deco hall at the heart of Swansea’s civic life.

Swansea Pride returns on 16 May — with a Lady Gaga tribute headline act
The Guildhall and Brangwyn Hall host one of Swansea’s biggest free events this month.

SWANSEA: Could the city be home to a new Eden Project-style resort? The team behind Xanadoo are actively looking for a site

A world-class visitor attraction inspired by Cornwall’s Eden Project is being considered for Swansea – but the developers say no site has yet been identified and they are actively inviting anyone with a suitable location to get in touch.

The project is called Xanadoo – a name that echoes Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous 1797 poem Kubla Khan, in which Xanadu is the pleasure dome of Kublai Khan, a place of magnificence and wonder. Xanadu also featured in Olivia Newton-John’s 1980 hit of the same name, giving the word a warm pop culture resonance for many visitors who would be the target audience. The developers have given it their own distinctive spelling.

Behind the plans is Gaynor Coley, one of the founders of Cornwall’s Eden Project, which transformed a former clay mine into a botanical garden and generated an estimated £6 billion in economic impact for Cornwall and the West Country over 30 years. Coley’s firm, Road to Happiness, which she runs with partner Susan Hill who also worked at the Eden Project, is behind the Xanadoo concept.

Coley, who is originally from Cwmbran, said she believed Xanadoo could do for south Wales what the Eden Project did for Cornwall. “We believe Xanadoo can do the same for south Wales as the Eden Project did for Cornwall. It will bring sustainable tourism, support hospitality and creativity, storytelling, digital and health and wellbeing,” she said.

The prospectus for the project estimates a site could attract 600,000 visitors a year and generate £15 million in annual revenue while employing 250 full-time staff, with an overall economic impact of £840 million over 30 years. The resort would have four core elements – a Gallery of Marvellous Solutions showcasing exhibits currently in storage in galleries and museums across the world; a food and craft market; a Tomorrow’s World innovation exhibit using VR and augmented reality; and a giant playground.

The primary focus of the developers appears to be south-east Wales, with Road to Happiness currently in discussions with Torfaen Borough Council, having previously worked with them on redesigning Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran. Sites in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent are being actively considered. Swansea is mentioned as an additional possibility – with Coley saying she is “still open minded” and “actively looking for sites” in Swansea alongside Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.

No specific Swansea site has been named and no discussions with Swansea Council have been confirmed. Online commenters have already begun speculating about potential locations – with the former Felindre Steelworks site emerging as one suggestion. The 16-hectare Parc Felindre site on the northern fringe of Swansea is the former Felindre Tinplate Works, remediated by a joint venture between Swansea Council and the Welsh Government, but it has remained largely undeveloped despite years of attempts to market it as a business and industrial park.

The steelworks employed 2,500 people at its peak in the 1970s before closing in 1989 – giving the site an industrial heritage that could echo Eden’s own clay mine origins. The site is well connected to the M4 at junction 46, though it sits well north of the city centre and the main tourist corridors.

If Swansea were selected, it would join a city that has been steadily building its credentials as a visitor destination. The Skyline development on Kilvey Hill is transforming one of the city’s most prominent landmarks into a major tourist attraction. The Hafod Morfa Copperworks – where Penderyn Distillery has opened a visitor experience – is being brought back to life as a heritage and hospitality destination in the Lower Swansea Valley.

Plans for an aquarium and lido at the Civic Centre site are also advancing, and beyond the city itself, the Gower Peninsula – the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – remains one of Wales’s most powerful draws for visitors, giving any major attraction in the area access to an already-established tourist catchment.

Torfaen Borough Council has discussed the project formally, though its deputy chief executive described it as a “potential tourism product” at “very, very early stages.” The concept film produced for Xanadoo describes it as seeking an iconic new-build or heritage site in south-east Wales – a region with a “powerful industrial legacy, dramatic landscapes and major nearby catchments.”

Whether Swansea ultimately features in those plans remains to be seen. Coley has encouraged anyone who thinks there is a location that could be right for Xanadoo to get in touch with Road to Happiness directly.

Swansea’s growing visitor economy

Council approves plan for Skyline development on Kilvey Hill
The ambitious hilltop attraction already transforming Swansea’s skyline.

Welsh business chosen to bring new life to Swansea heritage buildings
The Hafod Morfa Copperworks coming back to life as a heritage and hospitality destination.

New artist’s impression reveals dramatic transformation planned for Swansea’s Civic Centre
Plans for an aquarium, lido and major redevelopment of the civic centre site.

Gower: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70
Why Gower remains one of Wales’s most powerful draws for visitors.

All the exciting plans for Swansea as part of the £1bn regeneration programme
The full picture of Swansea’s transformation ambitions.

SWANSEA: Debenhams building sold to Quadrant owners as three major new tenants set to be named ‘within days’

Swansea’s long-vacant former Debenhams building has been sold by the council to Centurion – the company that already owns and operates the Quadrant Shopping Centre and Parc Tawe – in a deal that paves the way for three major new tenants to move in before the end of 2026.

The sale clears the way for two major national retailers and a national leisure operator to be confirmed as tenants of the three-storey building, which has stood empty since Debenhams went into liquidation in 2021. Council leader Rob Stewart said the names of the companies would be announced “within the coming days.”

A spokesperson for the council leader confirmed the sale price is commercially confidential, but said it represents a saving compared to projected costs. The deal also means Centurion will take on the cost of fitting out the building — saving the council taxpayers the expense of that phase too.

The council had already completed the strip-out of the building, which was purchased for approximately 2.85 million pounds using Welsh Government Transforming Towns funding in 2023 and hollowed back to bare concrete by contractor Andrew Scott Ltd.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart described it as big news for the city. “Shoppers want choice. Today’s news at the former Debenhams delivers exactly that – a major national retailer, a sports and leisure centre, dozens of new jobs, and a renewed reason for families to spend their day in our city centre,” he said.

He added that the sale to Centurion represented a significant step forward for Swansea’s wider regeneration. “New offices are opening across the city. The Swansea Bay Metro will make getting in and out of Swansea easier than ever. Swansea Council has delivered record investment over the past 12 years. We will continue to invest, back our city, and make Swansea a place everyone wants to be.”

Stewart also addressed the M&S closure announced this week, expressing disappointment that the retailer had not given the city time to find a new site before closing its doors. “It is hugely disappointing that Marks and Spencer have decided to close their Swansea store at the end of May. Our first thoughts are with the 92 staff facing uncertainty,” he said. “We are working with M&S leadership to bring a full-line store back to the city, and that is what we will keep pressing for.”

Jane Rice of Centurion confirmed the deal had been signed the previous day and that tenant names were imminent. “We are so excited to be able to announce that we are now the proud owners of Debenhams and we have three major tenants lined up which we can’t announce just yet but it’s so exciting and we just can’t wait,” she said.

She added that the new tenants would transform the shopping experience in the Quadrant. “For every shopper that now enters the Quadrant, as and when all the stores are up and running, it will be a full experience — many different retailers on site, a complete experience, all that Christmas shopping, one-stop shop.”

Rice said Centurion had identified Swansea’s potential early. “We’ve recognised some time ago that Swansea is on the rise. There is billions of pounds of investment being poured into the city centre and we want to be part of that. This sort of demonstrates our commitment to help seeing that come to fruition.”

Adam Gibbons of Centurion added that the company had committed to Swansea for the long term. “We recognise early on that there is a lot of potential in Swansea city centre and this sort of demonstrates our commitment to help seeing that come to fruition,” he said.

The sale also clears the way for Centurion to move forward with wider investment and regeneration plans for the rest of the Quadrant – the shopping centre they have been steadily revitalising since taking over its ownership. Recent arrivals under Centurion’s stewardship have included a Holland and Barrett flagship store and a new Rituals outlet.

Debenhams opened as the flagship anchor of the Quadrant when it was first built in 1978-79, marking what was then a golden era for Swansea retail. Its closure in 2021 after the 242-year-old brand went into national liquidation left a three-storey void at the heart of the city’s main shopping centre.

The council’s purchase of the building in 2023 and the subsequent strip-out – which saw dramatic internal transformation photos emerge earlier this year – signalled the start of a new chapter for the site. Today’s sale to Centurion confirms that chapter is now ready to begin in earnest.

The announcement comes as Swansea city centre continues a broader retail revival, with over 120 new retailers, hospitality and leisure businesses having opened since 2020 and more than 1 billion pounds of regeneration investment underway across the city.

Centurion are keen to see the new stores open before the end of 2026. The names of the three tenants are expected to be confirmed within the coming days.

Swansea Bay News will bring you the full tenant announcement the moment it is made.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Flagship M&S store confirms May 30 closure date as council leader hints at Debenhams news
Yesterday’s M&S closure confirmation – and the tease that led to today’s announcement.

Inside Swansea’s old Debenhams: photos show dramatic transformation as revamp gathers pace
The dramatic strip-out of the Quadrant unit earlier this year.

Council buys former Swansea Debenhams store
How the council took ownership of the building in the first place.

Swansea-based retail entrepreneurs buy Quadrant Shopping Centre
The Centurion Group’s takeover of the Quadrant.

The future of retail in Swansea: the shops you want, the brands we asked, and what comes next
Our feature on Swansea’s retail revival.

Holland & Barrett opens new flagship store in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre
One of the recent Quadrant arrivals under Centurion’s ownership.

SWANSEA: Thieves steal Blackpill Lido sprinklers days before bank holiday opening — leaving families facing wait

Thieves have struck at one of Swansea’s most popular free family attractions just days before its summer opening, stealing the distinctive sprinklers from Blackpill Lido and forcing a delay that will disappoint thousands of families planning a bank holiday visit.

The sprinklers – which help keep visitors cool in the sunshine during the lido’s busy summer season – were taken from the site on Wednesday. Police have been informed and CCTV footage is being checked to help identify those responsible.

The lido had been due to open for the summer on Saturday 2 May, with council staff spending the week carrying out checks and repairs in preparation. Instead, visitors arriving this weekend will find it closed, with the opening now pushed back by at least a week.

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council’s Head of Cultural Services, Parks and Cleansing, said the council was working urgently to find a solution. “We’re disappointed and upset that this has happened and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we organise a fix that will allow us to open the lido safely as soon as possible,” she said.

She urged anyone with information to come forward. “The sprinklers were stolen from the site on Wednesday, and we’d urge anyone who might be able to help recover them to contact the police. We’re checking CCTV footage to see if they can help us identify the thieves,” she said.

She added that the sprinklers were distinctive and would have been difficult to remove unnoticed. “The sprinklers are distinctive and the two larger ones are quite heavy. They would have had to be lifted into a van or larger vehicle so it’s quite possible that someone would have seen it happening.”

Council teams are now working to create a temporary fix for the holes left where the sprinklers should be, so the lido can be used safely once the repair is complete. Once that work is finished, it will take a further three days to fill the pool area – meaning an opening date of at least a week away.

McNulty said the council remained committed to getting the lido open as quickly as possible. “Blackpill Lido is a fantastic free family destination, and we are doing all we can to resolve the issues and get the lido open. Although we are organising a temporary fix, we’re committed to replacing the sprinklers as soon as we can.”

Blackpill Lido sits on the seafront at Blackpill on the edge of Swansea Bay, and is one of the city’s most-loved free outdoor spaces during the summer months. The wide shallow pool is particularly popular with young children and their families during warm weather, and forms part of a wider package of free waterfront attractions in the bay area.

The theft comes as the council has been investing significantly in the bay area, with ambitious plans including padel courts, a zip wire and a year-round lido among proposals being considered for the future of Swansea Bay.

South Wales Police is investigating the theft. Anyone who may have seen something suspicious at the site on Wednesday, or who has any information about the whereabouts of the sprinklers, is asked to contact South Wales Police by calling 101, or to report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Summer fun returns: Swansea’s land train, pedalos and crazy golf back this month
The other free and low-cost family attractions returning to Swansea Bay this summer.

Padel courts, zip wire and a year-round lido: Swansea’s big plans for the bay
The council’s ambitious vision for the future of Swansea Bay.

Flats, aquarium and lido: Swansea’s civic centre plans move closer as cabinet gives green light
Plans for a new lido as part of the wider civic centre redevelopment.

SWANSEA: Council trials on-street electric vehicle charging to help drivers without driveways

Swansea residents who park on the street are taking part in a pioneering trial that allows them to charge their electric vehicles outside their own homes – without creating a hazard for pedestrians walking past.

Swansea Council has teamed up with electric vehicle charging company Kerbo Charge to test an innovative solution for the growing number of EV owners who don’t have off-street parking. Ten households across the city have been selected to take part – following an open invitation to residents to register their interest last year – and have already had charging equipment installed at their properties.

The system works by cutting a shallow channel into the footway outside a resident’s home. A charging cable can then be fed from the home charger through the channel and across the pavement to the vehicle parked at the roadside – without leaving a cable lying across the pavement that could trip passers-by.

Stuart Davies, Swansea Council’s Head of Transport and Highways, said the trial was a response to the rapid growth of electric and hybrid vehicles on Welsh roads. “With the popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles increasing year on year, we know that we need to look at innovative new ways to enable all electric car owners to easily charge their cars,” he said.

He acknowledged that while many Swansea residents with driveways can already charge at home, those without off-street parking have been left relying on public charging points. “Residents that do not have a driveway or off-street parking at their homes have to rely on public charging points,” he said.

The council has expanded its public charging network in recent years, adding fast-charging points at council-owned car parks and on-street locations across the city to complement the wider commercial EV charging network. But the Kerbo Charge trial aims to go further – giving residents without driveways the same convenience as those who can charge at home overnight.

Davies said the trial would allow the council to assess whether the system could be rolled out more widely. “This trial will give us the opportunity to work with residents and Kerbo Charge and test this method of on-street charging to see the potential benefits and see if it is something we can develop further in the future,” he said.

Kerbo Charge has developed the channel solution specifically to address one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in urban areas – the lack of home charging for the significant proportion of households without off-street parking.

The trial is being funded by the Welsh Government with support from Transport for Wales, as part of Wales’s wider push to support the transition to electric vehicles.

Swansea is not the only Welsh council exploring new approaches to EV charging infrastructure, but the Kerbo Charge technology represents one of the more inventive solutions to the pavement cable problem that has long made kerbside charging difficult to implement safely.

Households across the city were invited to register their interest in the trial in advance, with ten selected to participate in the first phase.

The council said it would evaluate the results of the trial before deciding whether to expand the scheme. Anyone interested in taking part in future phases can register their interest with Swansea Council directly.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

On-street electric vehicle charging to be trialled in Swansea
Our previous coverage of the original announcement of this trial.

Two new super-fast EV charging hubs open near Swansea and the M4
The latest additions to the public EV charging network across the Swansea area.

Electric boost: EV chargepoints in Wales grow by 25.7% in a year
The rapid expansion of Wales’s public charging network.

EV repair postcode lottery leaves huge gaps across south west Wales
The challenges still facing EV drivers in rural and semi-rural areas.

Recharge with a view: Rhossili named one of the UK’s most Instagrammable EV charging points
A lighter side to the EV story – Gower’s charging point makes national headlines.

SWANSEA: Flagship M&S store confirms May 30 closure date – as council leader hints at Debenhams news

The flagship Marks and Spencer store on Oxford Street in Swansea city centre will close its doors for good on Saturday 30 May, the retail giant has confirmed – bringing an end to a 69-year presence at the heart of the city.

M&S announced earlier this year that its Swansea city centre store had been underperforming for a prolonged period, and that the closure formed part of a wider programme to reshape its store estate. Around 92 members of staff were employed at the store when the decision was confirmed in February.

A spokesperson for M&S said: “Our M&S Swansea city centre store will close on Saturday, May 30. As previously announced, this decision forms part of our plans to reshape our store estate so we can invest in stores that better meet the needs of our customers. We remain committed to serving customers in Swansea through our nearby stores and online, and are working closely with Swansea Council and other local partners to explore opportunities for a future M&S presence in the city.”

The confirmation of a closing date will prompt renewed concern about the future of high street retail in Swansea, given the scale and prominence of the Oxford Street store. M&S has occupied a substantial footprint in the city centre for decades, and its loss leaves a significant gap at one of the busiest retail locations in south Wales.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the closure was hugely disappointing, and expressed frustration that a replacement site had not yet been secured before the shutters come down. “Hugely disappointing to see M&S press ahead with closure of this store before a new location within Swansea has been secured,” he said on social media.

Stewart added that the ideal outcome would have been a seamless transition for both staff and customers. “The ideal outcome, short of the current store remaining open, would have been having a new store open that staff and customers can move to, without a gap in trade or employment,” he said. “We will continue to work with M&S to secure a new location in Swansea, as close to the city centre as possible.”

A spokesperson for Swansea Council said the authority was continuing to work with M&S to find a new site. “We are disappointed that M&S has decided to close its store at the end of May. However, we are continuing to work with M&S to find a new site for them in the city.”

Rob Stewart’s post also contained a notable tease for shoppers concerned about the future of the city centre – hinting that a significant announcement about the former Debenhams building is expected imminently. “On a more positive note expect news on Debenhams tomorrow!” he wrote.

The former Debenhams store has been the subject of ongoing redevelopment since the department store chain collapsed. Swansea Council purchased the building and has been working to bring new tenants in, with three businesses previously announced as part of the revamp.

Work to prepare the building for its new occupants began in earnest last year, with dramatic internal transformation photos showing the scale of the changes underway.

The closure has been the subject of intense political debate in Swansea since February, with MP Torsten Bell demanding staff support and a replacement store, and politicians clashing over the council’s city centre strategy in the weeks that followed.

Council Leader, Rob Stewart has since announced the sale of the former Debenhams building in the Quadrant to Centurion, with three major new tenants set to be named within days. Read the full story here.

The M&S store on Oxford Street remains open until 30 May.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

M&S to close 69-year-old Swansea store in huge shock to council
Our original report on the closure announcement in February.

M&S fightback: MP Torsten Bell demands staff support and new store for Swansea
Political pressure mounts after the closure bombshell.

Politicians demand action as M&S closure sparks row over council vanity projects
The closure triggers a wider debate about Swansea’s city centre strategy.

M&S row: Council leader accuses Senedd candidate of using job losses for deplorable election campaign
The closure becomes a flashpoint in the Senedd election campaign.

Inside Swansea’s old Debenhams: photos show dramatic transformation as revamp gathers pace
Watch for our Debenhams update – expected imminently.

https://www.europesays.com/britain/25880/ GOWER: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70 – here’s why it’s still one of Britain’s most special places #AONB #AreaOfOutstandingNaturalBeauty #Britain #Gower #GowerNationalLandscape #GowerPeninsula #Rhossili #RhossiliBay #SwanseaCouncil #WalesCoastPath

GOWER: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70 – here’s why it’s still one of Britain’s most special places

The Gower Peninsula is celebrating a landmark birthday this month – turning 70 as the UK’s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a designation that transformed how Britain thinks about protecting its most treasured landscapes.

On 9 May 1956, Gower became the first place in the UK to be officially recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), setting a precedent that has since led to 46 National Landscapes being protected across the country. Seventy years on, it remains one of Wales’s most visited and most loved destinations.

The peninsula’s appeal is easy to understand. From the award-winning sands of Rhossili and the dramatic limestone cliffs of the south coast to rolling green commons, saltmarshes, hidden coves and charming villages, Gower has been stopping people in their tracks for generations. It is possible to surf in the morning, walk along the Wales Coast Path in the afternoon, and watch the sun set over one of the UK’s most photographed coastlines in the evening.

Gower is also steeped in extraordinary history. The peninsula is home to Europe’s oldest known ceremonial human burial site – the Red Lady of Paviland, dating back around 34,000 years – as well as standing stones, shipwrecks, caves, castles and the famous Arthur’s Stone. Few places in Britain pack so much natural and cultural heritage into such a compact area.

More recently, Gower was also designated as one of 46 National Landscapes across the UK, reflecting a modernisation of the way protected landscapes are described. The legal status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty remains unchanged, but the new name signals a broader ambition to connect people with the land and promote sustainable use alongside conservation.

Gower has also become South Wales’s first International Dark Sky Community – a recognition of the quality of its night skies and a sign of how protected landscapes are adapting to modern challenges beyond simply preserving what is there.

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council‘s head of service for cultural services, said the anniversary was a chance to celebrate not just the landscape but the people who make it special. “The anniversary is a chance to celebrate not just Gower’s landscapes, but also the people, communities and businesses that help make it such a welcoming place,” she said.

She added that Gower continued to pioneer new approaches to land management. “Gower continues to be a pioneer, becoming South Wales’ first International Dark Sky Community, showing how protected landscapes adapt to modern challenges.”

Swansea Council is encouraging everyone to get involved in the celebrations, whether visiting for the first time or returning to a favourite spot. “We’re welcoming everyone to be part of the celebrations whether you’re discovering Gower for the first time, or coming back to your favourite happy place,” McNulty said. “Explore responsibly, support local businesses and help keep this beautiful corner of South West Wales special for years to come.”

Gower’s designation in 1956 came at a time when rapid post-war development was threatening some of Britain’s most significant natural areas. The new AONB status gave the peninsula legal protection and established a framework that has since been applied across the UK, from the Cotswolds to the Causeway Coast.

Today the peninsula attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, contributing significantly to Swansea’s tourism economy. The challenge for the next 70 years will be balancing that popularity with the conservation of the very qualities that make Gower so special.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Gower named one of the best places on Earth to stargaze as Dark Sky status confirmed
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GOWERTON: Persimmon’s Fairwood Terrace plans dealt massive blow as Welsh Government orders full environmental assessment

Campaigners fighting Persimmon Homes’ proposed 216-home development at Fairwood Terrace in Gowerton have won a landmark ruling after a Welsh Government planning inspector ordered the scheme to undergo a full Environmental Impact Assessment – directly accepting their argument that the developer cannot treat each planning application in the area as if the others do not exist.

The ruling, issued by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), reverses previous decisions on the Fairwood Terrace site and represents a significant setback for Persimmon Homes, which had been appealing Swansea Council‘s 2024 refusal of the scheme on traffic grounds. The inspector has ruled that the 216-home proposal cannot be looked at in isolation – it must be assessed alongside the wider strategic allocation, including a 460-home site and a 600-home scheme also promoted by Persimmon in the same corridor.

Save Gowerton from Gridlock, the community group led by Carl Jones which has fought the development for years, described the ruling as incredible news. The group said the inspector’s acceptance of what they call the “salami-slicing” argument – the practice of breaking a large strategic site into separate applications to avoid cumulative scrutiny – was a “massive victory.”

The ruling also found there was “insufficient certainty” that pollution and nutrient levels in the Burry Inlet could be mitigated, triggering what campaigners describe as the precautionary principle – meaning the law now demands the highest level of environmental scrutiny before any decision can be made.

Persimmon Homes now have 21 days to decide their next move. They can accept the ruling and commission the full Environmental Impact Assessment – a process expected to take between six and twelve months and involving expensive, large-scale environmental studies covering traffic, flood risk, pollution and ecological impact. Alternatively, if they refuse to provide the required report, the inspector can effectively dismiss the appeal entirely.

Save Gowerton from Gridlock say they have already contacted PEDW to ensure the group is formally consulted on the scoping of the new studies, giving them the opportunity to ensure that every traffic bottleneck and flood risk is included in the environmental workload.

The Fairwood Terrace site has been at the centre of one of Swansea’s most fiercely contested planning disputes. Plans were first drawn up in 2022, when Persimmon proposed around 230 homes on land between the River Llan and the railway line beside Gowerton station. The scheme also included a new station forecourt with a potential park-and-ride, a bus-only link eastward toward Waunarlwydd, upgraded traffic lights at Fairwood Terrace’s junction with Victoria Road, and a walking and cycling connection through to the neighbouring development site.

The proposal attracted nearly 900 objection letters and a 300-signature petition from residents who feared it would overwhelm already-congested junctions, increase flood risk and damage the character of the village. Swansea Council rejected the scheme on traffic grounds in 2024, despite planning officers advising that refusal would be difficult to defend at appeal. Persimmon subsequently appealed to the Welsh Government, and the case has been with PEDW ever since.

The Fairwood Terrace story so far

December 2022 – Persimmon first drew up plans for 230 homes at Fairwood Terrace, beside Gowerton station, as part of the Waunarlwydd North LDP allocation.

2024 – Swansea Council refused the application on traffic grounds despite officer support for approval, after nearly 900 objection letters and a 300-signature petition from local residents.

October 2025 – Persimmon unveiled a separate 600-home scheme south of the A484, directly opposite Bellway’s Parc Mawr development in Penllergaer, designed to link via an active travel route into Fairwood Terrace – raising fears of a continuous ribbon of housing along the entire A484 corridor.

April 2026 – Barratt and David Wilson Homes submitted a planning application for 430 homes on the Fforestfach/Waunarlwydd site – part of the same wider 716-home strategic allocation – further intensifying pressure on the corridor.

April 2026 – Welsh Government inspector rules the 216-home appeal must undergo a full Environmental Impact Assessment, accepting the “salami-slicing” argument. Persimmon now have 21 days to decide whether to commission the studies or walk away.

The backdrop to the dispute is a proposed continuous ribbon of housing stretching from Penllergaer through Gorseinon, Waunarlwydd and Gowerton along the A484. Persimmon’s separate 600-home scheme sits directly opposite Bellway’s Parc Mawr development in Penllergaer, designed to connect via an active travel route westward into Fairwood Terrace. Further along the same wider 716-home strategic allocation, Barratt and David Wilson Homes have now submitted a full planning application for 430 homes at Fforestfach.

If all the schemes along the corridor proceed, close to 3,000 new homes would be built in a continuous stretch – an amount campaigners say amounts to a new town stitched together along the A484. Today’s ruling that the Fairwood Terrace appeal must be assessed alongside those neighbouring sites is precisely the argument Save Gowerton from Gridlock has been making since the campaign began.

In February, Cllr Dai Jenkins told residents the fight was far from over as the appeal process stretched weeks beyond its original timetable. Jenkins had been pressing PEDW and Natural Resources Wales not to grant further extensions to Persimmon while the developer still owed information on nutrient neutrality and flood risk, and had called for a face-to-face hearing rather than a virtual process.

Today’s ruling vindicates that position. The inspector has accepted that the cumulative impact of the Fairwood Terrace scheme alongside the 460-home and 600-home sites must be formally assessed, and that the environmental uncertainty around the Burry Inlet is too significant to be set aside.

Carl Jones said the group had not yet won the war but had won a “massive battle.” He added that campaigners would continue to monitor the 21-day window closely and push for full consultation rights over whatever environmental studies Persimmon choose to commission, to ensure that every traffic pinchpoint, flood risk and pollution concern is properly included in the scope.

The decision is likely to be studied closely by communities facing similar large-scale planning applications across Swansea and the wider region, where cumulative development pressure along key arterial routes has been a recurring flashpoint.

More updates will follow as the 21-day deadline approaches.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Gowerton housing row: ‘We’re still fighting’ says councillor as Fairwood Terrace appeal enters decisive phase
Cllr Dai Jenkins’ February update as Persimmon faced pressure to provide nutrient neutrality and flood risk information.

Continuous ribbon of housing could stretch from Penllergaer to Gowerton as new 600-home scheme unveiled
How Persimmon’s linked schemes could create close to 3,000 homes along the A484 corridor.

Fforestfach: Planning application put in for major housing development
Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ 430-home application on the wider Waunarlwydd North strategic allocation.

Plans drawn up for 230-home development near Gowerton train station
Where it all started – Persimmon’s original 2022 proposals for the Fairwood Terrace site.

SWANSEA: 1930s Art Deco hotel wins approval to double its bedrooms and target 4-star rating — despite row over unauthorised excavation near historic Quaker burial ground

Plans to transform one of Swansea city centre’s most prominent historic hotels have been approved, with the Grand Hotel on Ivy Place set to more than double its bedrooms from 53 to 106 as part of a major expansion aimed at achieving a 4-star rating.

Swansea Council’s planning committee approved the scheme on Tuesday afternoon — but not without noting a significant controversy over excavation work carried out without planning permission at a site adjoining a historic Quaker burial ground.

The Grand Hotel, a four-storey Art Deco building constructed in the 1930s, sits directly opposite Swansea railway station and is described in planning documents as one of the first landmarks visible to visitors arriving in the city by train. The applicant is Mr Con Maloney.

Swansea Bay News first reported on the Grand Hotel plans last October, when an earlier version of the scheme received planning permission for 42 additional bedrooms. The applicant returned with an amended scheme adding a further floor — taking the additional rooms from 42 to 57 — after steel design costs came in significantly higher than originally budgeted.

The revised scheme, designed by Lawray Architects (application reference 2025/2514/FUL), will add rooms across six floors: 8 bedrooms on each of the first and second floors, 13 on each of the third, fourth and fifth floors, and two further rooms alongside a bar and lounge on the rooftop level. A new basement cellar, a gym for hotel guests, additional lifts and a reconfigured and enlarged ground-floor function room are also included.

However, the committee report noted that the applicant had already excavated a basement without planning permission, and without the archaeological watching brief required under conditions attached to the original consent. The hotel site adjoins the former Quaker Meeting House — built in 1807 — and its associated burial ground, and during excavation a human inhumation from the Quaker burial ground was discovered.

The council’s archaeological consultants Heneb (Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust) said it was “reasonable to conclude” that further archaeological deposits including human remains may have been damaged or destroyed during the unmonitored work. The committee report stated the failure to undertake proper archaeological mitigation “is regrettable and not condoned” and weighed against the application. However, the committee approved the scheme on the basis that the regeneration benefits for High Street outweighed the identified archaeological harm.

A new condition has been attached requiring a full written scheme of historic environment mitigation to be submitted before any further development takes place.

The historic 1930s Art Deco façade facing the railway station will be preserved and enhanced, with new upper floors set back behind the main building line. One of the most distinctive design features is a living green wall on the west elevation facing High Street — a modular vertical garden system that will support biodiversity, reduce noise pollution and improve air quality. Dark aluminium cladding originally proposed for the rooftop extension was changed to a lighter grey zinc cladding following visual testing.

The new upper floors use a mansard roof design, with dormer windows and Juliet balconies throughout the upper levels and large openings at roof level for city views from the bar and lounge. Bird boxes and bat boxes will be installed within a month of the development’s completion as part of the scheme’s ecological enhancement commitments.

All consultees — including Natural Resources Wales, Highways, Drainage and Welsh Water — raised no objection to the scheme. No objections were received from neighbouring properties during the pre-application consultation process.

The committee report describes the High Street area as being in “major need of regeneration” and notes the hotel expansion could act as a catalyst for wider investment. The scheme falls within a Strategic Development Area under Swansea’s Local Development Plan, which specifically identifies High Street as a priority area for regeneration linking the railway station to the retail centre.

Construction will be restricted to 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea’s Grand Hotel set for £3.5m transformation with rooftop bar and 55 new bedrooms
Our original report on the Grand Hotel transformation plans from October 2025.

Grand Hotel — all our coverage
Our full archive of reporting on the Grand Hotel development.

SWANSEA: British Art Show 10 confirmed for Glynn Vivian next year — the only Welsh stop on a national tour featuring artists from Tracey Emin to Grayson Perry

Swansea has been confirmed as the only Welsh stop on the British Art Show 10 national tour, with the exhibition — described as the largest and most significant recurring contemporary art show in the UK — coming to the city from February 12 to May 16, 2027.

British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers, developed and produced by Hayward Gallery Touring as part of Southbank Centre, will launch in Coventry in October 2026 before visiting Swansea, Bristol, Sheffield and Newcastle-Gateshead.

Swansea Bay News first reported on Swansea’s selection as a host city last August. The full details of the exhibition — including its title, themes and venues — have now been confirmed.

The exhibition will be based at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and will also take in the new home for Elysium Gallery on Belle Vue Way, with plans for a presence at Y Storfa in the city centre subject to confirmation.

It will span a wide range of media — including painting, sculpture, ceramics, film, sound and installation — and will explore three themes: Moments of Being, Ways of Living, and States of Nature.

Over the last four decades the British Art Show has brought some of Britain’s best-known contemporary artists to cities across the UK, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, David Hockney and Lucian Freud. The tenth edition will be curated by Ekow Eshun.

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council’s head of cultural services, said Swansea’s selection reflected the strength of the city’s cultural offer. “We are grateful for the enduring partnership with Hayward Touring and for the support received from Arts Council Wales, which has helped make this happen, not just for Swansea but for the nation,” she said.

Karen MacKinnon, curator at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, said the gallery was excited about the opportunity to work on a major multi-venue national project. “Curator Ekow Eshun will be bringing together an incredible range of artists from across the UK, and this exhibition will create new opportunities for local artists and a lasting creative legacy for Swansea,” she said.

“Glynn Vivian has a longstanding relationship with Hayward Gallery Touring and we very much look forward to working with them on this major exhibition.”

Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales, said the exhibition would raise the profile of Swansea’s arts scene. “The British Art Show provides an excellent opportunity to showcase what Swansea has to offer in terms of its vibrant art scene, raises awareness and increases opportunities for the artistic community, and best of all will bring people into the city to enjoy an exciting cultural offer,” he said.

The exhibition is supported by Swansea Council and Arts Council Wales. Alongside the main show, a programme of workshops, talks, tours and events will run throughout the Swansea leg of the tour.

The full British Art Show 10 tour schedule is: Coventry, October 2 2026 to January 10 2027; Swansea, February 12 to May 16 2027; Bristol, June 19 to September 19 2027; Sheffield, October 23 2027 to February 20 2028; Newcastle-Gateshead, March 24 to June 18 2028.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

British Art Show to visit Swansea for the first time in 2027
Our original report on Swansea being selected as a host city.

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery — all our coverage
Our full archive of reporting on the gallery.

SWANSEA: Trading Standards secures conviction against company issuing fraudulent HGV medical certificates

A director whose company issued fraudulent medical certificates as part of HGV licence applications has been convicted following a years-long investigation by Swansea Council Trading Standards.

Andrew Eburne, 51, of Hill Rise, Burbage, Hinckley, was found guilty of operating a fraudulent business through his company Doctors on Wheels Ltd, which provided D4 medical certificates — a legal requirement for anyone applying for an HGV licence.

The investigation was triggered by concerns raised by the DVLA, which had spotted anomalies in certificates being submitted as part of HGV licence applications. Swansea Council Trading Standards worked alongside investigators from across the UK to build the case.

A D4 medical certificate confirms that a driver is physically and mentally fit to operate a heavy goods vehicle. It must be completed by a qualified medical professional — typically a GP or occupational health doctor — and covers eyesight, blood pressure, neurological conditions and a range of other health factors relevant to driving large vehicles safely.

HGV drivers are required to hold a valid D4 certificate when applying for a Group 2 licence, which covers lorries, buses and other large vehicles. The certificates must be renewed periodically as drivers age, with more frequent renewals required for older drivers.

Fraudulent certificates raise serious road safety concerns. An HGV driver who is unfit to drive but holds a falsely obtained licence poses a significant risk to other road users. The weight and size of heavy goods vehicles means that accidents involving them can have catastrophic consequences.

The fraudulent certificates raised the prospect of unfit drivers obtaining HGV licences, with potential consequences for road safety.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council Trading Standards Team Leader, said the outcome demonstrated the value of close working between agencies. “We were able to show in court that D4 medical certificates were submitted to the DVLA with the intention of them being issued as part of a HGV licence application,” he said.

“Fortunately, due to the expertise shown by the DVLA in spotting these anomalies, along with our own investigation, we prevented this becoming a much more serious issue.”

Harries added that the case underlined the importance of ensuring medical certificates are properly completed by qualified professionals to help keep roads safe.

The DVLA is based in Swansea and is one of the city’s largest employers, responsible for maintaining records on more than 50 million drivers and 40 million vehicles across the UK. The agency’s role in spotting the anomalies that triggered the investigation was described by Trading Standards as central to the successful prosecution.

Anyone with concerns about a business operating unfairly or unlawfully can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

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SWANSEA: Barges needed to build new £8m riverside cycle and walking path linking city centre to Swansea.com Stadium

A new walking and cycling route along the River Tawe has been given the green light by Swansea Council — with the project set to become one of the most ambitious pieces of active travel infrastructure the city has seen.

The path will run for a mile along the west bank of the Tawe, from a point north of the Tawe bridges through to the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks area — linking the city centre with the copperworks, Swansea.com Stadium and Morfa Retail Park for cyclists and pedestrians. It will be built in three phases and is expected to take three years to complete.

The total cost of the scheme, including design and project management, is £8.25 million. That will be funded through a combination of £6.6 million from the Welsh Government’s regional transport fund, £1.4 million from the UK Government, and a £250,000 developer contribution linked to a separate planning permission.

The council has confirmed the project will be a complex engineering undertaking. A new revetment — a reinforced structure to support the walkway along the riverbank — will need to be constructed, and sections of the work will have to be carried out from barges because of access restrictions along parts of the river corridor.

Once complete, the new path will connect with an existing stretch of shared-use path near the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks — an area undergoing a major heritage restoration that has attracted significant investment in recent years, including the arrival of Penderyn Distillery at the site. The new route will add to the 85 miles of shared-use paths already available across Swansea.

For cyclists and pedestrians, the route will offer a traffic-free connection between the city centre and a cluster of major destinations to the north — including Swansea.com Stadium, home of Swansea City AFC, and the growing Morfa Retail Park. The Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, one of Wales’ most significant industrial heritage sites, sits at the northern end of the route.

The three-phase approach to construction reflects both the engineering complexity of the project and the need to keep disruption manageable along a stretch of riverside that already attracts walkers and recreational users.

The Tawe path forms the headline project in a wider programme of cycling and walking investment confirmed for Swansea in 2026/27. Also included in the settlement is a £700,000 shared-use path linking Ffordd Beck in Gowerton to Pont Y Cob Road — a route that would finally deliver a safe connection between the two communities that has been in planning since 2022. At the moment there is no footpath between the two locations and the only provision for cyclists is a painted advisory route on a narrow main road.

A £500,000 upgrade of the existing shared-use path between Dunvant and Gowerton is also confirmed, widening the route to improve safety and capacity. Gowerton has been the focus of active travel investment in recent years — a new cycling and walking link to Gowerton station opened after significant delays, and the latest round of funding continues to build on that network.

Taken together, the three cycling and walking schemes represent a significant step forward for active travel connectivity across the western side of Swansea — connecting the city centre to the river corridor, and linking Gowerton more effectively to both Dunvant and Loughor.

Stuart Davies, Head of Service for Transport and Highways at Swansea Council, said the funding would enable the council to deliver “a wide range of transport related projects that will benefit motorists, public transport users as well as pedestrians and cyclists.”

The broader transport package for 2026/27 also includes a £750,000 e-bike hire scheme with up to 500 bikes to be made available for short trips across Swansea, further strengthening the active travel offer alongside the new infrastructure. Locations for the e-bike hire points have yet to be confirmed.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

New walking and cycling route proposed between Gowerton and Loughor
The long-planned Pont Y Cob Road route between Gowerton and Loughor — now funded for construction.

Gowerton’s long-awaited cycle and walking link to station finally opens after delays
The most recent active travel milestone in Gowerton, which the new investment builds on.

Penderyn Distillery handed keys to new Morfa Copperworks site in Swansea
One of the major regeneration projects at the northern end of the new Tawe riverside path.

New images show how heritage sites at Swansea’s Strand, Hafod Copperworks and museum could be transformed
The wider regeneration vision for the area at the northern end of the new Tawe path.

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Fforestfach: Planning application put in for major housing development

The proposed 35-hectare site is primarily located north of Titanium Road and Ystrad Road. 

The 430 properties would range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, and 86 of them would be available for social rent.

Barratt Homes would build the social rented properties and 175 of the open market homes while one of its brands, David Wilson Homes, would build the remaining 169. Access to the homes would be from Titanium Road.

Swansea Council is assessing a detailed planning application for the 430 houses in tandem with an outline application for the primary school, plus three commercial units and community space referred to as a “local centre”.

Around 65% of the site is currently pastureland, according to a design and access statement submitted on BDW Trading Ltd’s behalf. There’s also scrub, marshland, woodland, a cluster of farm buildings, and a waste storage and recycling facility.

The plan is to create new areas of habitat enabling residents to look onto a network of green spaces.

“Walking, running, and cycling routes will open up the meadows for everyone and create car-free connections to neighbouring communities,” the design and access statement said.

“There will be plenty of places to meet your neighbours with a community heart near the school offering a place to get together for social events.”

The development would come with new paths for cyclists and walkers and increased bus services. Subject to these being implemented the transport impact of the development would be “negligible”, according to a transport assessment submitted on behalf of BDW Trading Ltd.

The primary school, along with the “local centre” and a community sports pitch, would be on the east of the site with the houses on the west and south. The northern chunk would have open space, meadows, trees, and other features such as a park running along the Afan Llan.

A pre-application consultation has been carried out, including a drop-in session at St Illtyd’s Church Hall, Ystrad Road.

There was feedback from two residents, who were worried about the scheme’s impact on roads and surface water flooding, during the consultation period.

A flood assessment on behalf of the applicant said the proposed houses and commercial buildings would be sited in areas deemed to be at little or no risk of flooding, and measures would be implemented to reduce flood risk for the school and playing field area.

The 35-hectare site is part of a larger chunk of land stretching west to Gowerton and north to the A484, which was allocated by Swansea Council for 716 homes and a large employment zone as part of its current county-wide development plan.

There had been an expectation of a new east-to-west link road, but the latest proposals envisage it being for pedestrians and cyclists rather than vehicles – partly because more people work from home and partly because of the new school and community facilities proposed on site.

The residents who responded to the pre-application consultation felt the link road was needed and should be built as part of the application. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Proposed Development Details

• Housing Mix: The development includes a range of properties from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses.
• Social Housing: 86 units (20%) are designated for social rent, to be built by Barratt Homes.
• Market Housing: 175 open-market homes will be built by Barratt Homes, and the remaining 169 by their brand, David Wilson Homes.
• Community Infrastructure: The plans include an outline application for:
  • A new primary school.
  • Three commercial units and community space (referred to as a “local centre”).
  • Leisure facilities and green spaces including meadows, woodland, and car-free walking and cycling route

[Lead image: V-real Architectural Visualisation]

SWANSEA: Five jailed after street brawl saw family arm themselves with nail-studded plank in revenge attack

Swansea Crown Court heard that the background to the violence was a belief on the part of brothers Adam Miller and Kristian Thomas that Corey Jenkins was involved in drug dealing in the Ravenhill area of Swansea.

On 6 June, the pair acted on that belief by taking golf clubs to the Jenkins family home on Rhodfa’r Brain, where they smashed a number of downstairs windows before walking to the nearby home of a relative, David Dallimore.

In response, four members of the Jenkins family — Paul, Christopher, Corey and Lisa Jenkins — armed themselves with weapons and made their way to Mr Dallimore’s address, where the confrontation spilled into the street.

The disturbance was captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage. Corey Jenkins was seen wielding a plank of wood studded with nails and a metal pole, Paul Jenkins had a hammer, and Christopher and Lisa Jenkins were armed with sticks.

During the melee, Thomas struck neighbour Kirsty Choi on the head with a metal pole as she tried to help an injured member of the Jenkins family nearby.

Judge Catherine Richards said that while Miller and Thomas had sparked the incident by taking the law into their own hands and attacking the Jenkins home, the Jenkins family had then armed themselves and engaged in an act of “vigilantism” without regard for the impact on the wider community or the fear caused to fellow residents.

The judge’s remarks underlined the serious impact the disorder had on innocent people in the area. Residents who had no connection to either party were left to witness a large-scale armed confrontation on their street, with the judge making clear that the Jenkins family’s decision to arm themselves and pursue retribution had significantly aggravated the situation.

Paul Jenkins, 64, Christopher Paul Jenkins, 45, Corey Jenkins, 23, and Lisa Dawn Jenkins, 45, all of Rhodfa’r Brain, Ravenhill, had previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Paul and Christopher Jenkins have previous convictions; Corey and Lisa Jenkins had been of previously good character.

Kristian Dale Thomas, 39, of Tudno Place, Penlan, had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was convicted at trial of the unlawful wounding of Miss Choi. He was described as having an extensive record including possession of offensive weapons, affray, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and handling stolen goods.

Adam Miller, 34, also of Tudno Place, Penlan, had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. He too was described as having an extensive record including affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, arson and criminal damage. Both men were acquitted at trial of violent disorder in relation to the Rhodfa’r Brain incident. Mr Dallimore was also found not guilty.

With discounts for their guilty pleas, Paul Jenkins and Christopher Jenkins were both sentenced to 18 months in prison, and Corey Jenkins to 22 months. Lisa Jenkins received an 18-month sentence suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and abide by a nightly curfew for two months.

Miller was sentenced to nine months in prison. Thomas, whose conviction at trial for the wounding of Miss Choi added significantly to his sentence, received 26 months in prison.

Those given immediate custodial sentences will serve 40% of their terms behind bars before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community. The case was prosecuted following a police investigation into the disorder, which had been captured in detail on CCTV and mobile phone footage recovered from the scene.

Swansea’s only independent cinema to close this summer after 10 years on Castle Street

The venue — which opened in 2016 — is far more than a cinema. It has operated as a fully licensed café bar, art gallery, live music venue and community hub throughout its ten years, carving out a distinctive identity as one of the most characterful independent spaces in the city centre.

In a statement posted to social media, Redfern was candid about the reasons for the closure. “The reality of trying to run a principled, independent space in the current climate has become unsustainable — not just financially, but personally, creatively and emotionally too,” she said. “Rather than compromise what this place stands for, we are choosing to end it on our own terms. This is not a failure. This is a co.nclusion.”

In a longer personal post, she described the toll that running the space has taken over the years. “Running an independent space today means wearing every hat, holding everything together, and constantly fighting to keep something special alive,” she wrote. “And over time, that takes its toll. Not just on the business — but on the person behind it.”

Redfern acknowledged that the closure of Cinema & Co. was part of a much wider pattern affecting independent venues across the country. “You’re seeing it everywhere,” she wrote. “Independent spaces are disappearing — not because people don’t care, but because the conditions to sustain them are becoming impossible.”

The venue has never shied away from controversy. In 2021, Cinema & Co. refused to enforce the Welsh Government’s Covid pass scheme, with Redfern describing the measures as “discriminatory and unlawful.” The decision made national headlines and turned the Castle Street venue into a focal point for debate about Covid restrictions.

Swansea Council bolted the shutters after the venue defied closure orders and repeatedly reopened — including after a court order. The cinema opened on December 1, 2, 3 and 5 following a court order for it to close, and Redfern sent a letter to the council stating she would not comply with the closure notice.

Redfern was subsequently given a 28-day suspended sentence at Swansea Magistrates Court, fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £9,000 in council costs after pleading guilty to contempt of court, criminal damage and failing to comply with enforcement officers. District Judge Neale Thomas said: “Ms Redfern makes choices and she ignores the law and expects the law to treat her with special dispensation.”

The Covid controversy also drew the venue into a wider political row over its associations. Stand Up To Racism wrote an open letter — signed by more than 180 people including Lord Peter Hain, Geraint Davies MP, poet Patrick Jones and musician Helen Love — calling on Redfern to publicly distance herself from Voice of Wales, a group the letter accused of antisemitism, homophobia and links to figures including Tommy Robinson and the Proud Boys.

Voice of Wales had been a vocal supporter of Cinema & Co.’s anti-Covid pass stance, and members of the Stand Up To Racism group reported regular sightings of its members at the venue. Voice of Wales strongly denied the allegations, describing Stand Up To Racism as a far-left organisation spreading lies about them.

Redfern also rejected any connection to far-right groups. “I absolutely reject any claims that I am in any way connected to far-right groups, far-left groups or any form of racism,” she said. A crowdfunder set up by former Brexit Party and Abolish the Welsh Assembly candidate Richard Taylor raised more than £60,000 in support of the venue during the period.

The closure will leave Swansea city centre without an independent cinema. The venue’s ten years have encompassed film screenings, late-night events, community gatherings, art exhibitions, live music and the kind of relaxed café culture that larger commercial chains have rarely managed to replicate in the city.

Cinema & Co. built up a loyal following over the course of its decade on Castle Street, with its programming and atmosphere drawing a creative and community-minded crowd. Its loss will be keenly felt by many in the city who saw it as one of the few genuinely independent cultural spaces in Swansea’s city centre.

No specific closing date has been confirmed beyond “this summer.” Redfern urged those with fond memories of the venue to visit while they still can. “We have a few months left,” she said. “If Cinema & Co. has ever meant something to you — come and be part of it while you still can.”

The three images posted by Cinema & Co. to mark the announcement capture the venue’s characteristic flair — a “That’s all Folks!” graphic styled as a vintage film ending card, dated 2016–2026, alongside a message inviting regulars to be part of its final chapter before “the end credits roll.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Suspended sentence and £15k fine for Cinema & Co. owner
Redfern pleaded guilty to contempt of court after repeatedly defying closure orders during the Covid period.

Anti-racism group writes open letter to Cinema & Co. owner
Over 180 signatories called on Redfern to distance herself from Voice of Wales.

All our Cinema & Co. coverage
Our full archive of stories from the venue over the years.

SWANSEA: Crime down 12% and anti-social behaviour down 69% as Dyfatty crackdown delivers early results

The results cover the period between 15 January and 15 March, the first two months of the Clear Hold Build initiative, which was launched by South Wales Police and partners in late March with a pledge to take back the streets from organised crime.

South Wales Police say that in that period, officers carried out 28 proactive arrests for offences including assaults, robberies, drug dealing and possession, fail-to-appear warrants and weapon-related offences. A further 45 stop searches were conducted, 15 of which produced positive results leading to arrests or out-of-court disposals.

Police say 38 people were issued with directions to leave the area in response to anti-social behaviour, and four community protection warning notices were issued to repeat offenders with no legitimate reason to be in Dyfatty. Officers also executed five misuse-of-drugs warrants at identified addresses during the period.

The 69% reduction in reported anti-social behaviour incidents compared to the same period last year is particularly striking given the scale of the problems that preceded the operation. Residents had been living with the effects of organised crime for years — a situation Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones described as “long overdue” for action when the operation launched.

Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the results reflected the strength of the partnership approach established between police, the local authority, support services and the community. “Our continued presence in Dyfatty is making a real difference, and we are committed to building on this progress to ensure residents feel safe and supported,” he said. “This is only the beginning, and we will keep working together to deliver long-lasting improvements for the area.”

The Clear Hold Build model, backed by the Home Office, follows a three-phase approach. The first — Clear — involves a year-long police-led crackdown targeting offenders and disrupting criminal networks. The second phase, Hold, focuses on stabilising the area and preventing gangs from returning once enforcement pressure eases. The final phase, Build, brings long-term investment to tackle the root causes of crime and support economic growth.

The force says the Dyfatty project is the flagship scheme for the Swansea Public Services Board and builds on similar operations delivered elsewhere in the South Wales Police force area, including in Merthyr Tydfil, Adamsdown, Roath and Butetown.

The Hold phase will be led by Swansea Council working with all Public Services Board partners, and police and partners say it will focus on maintaining security, preventing criminal re-infiltration and strengthening community confidence. The Build phase will begin during the Hold phase and continue over the longer term.

The operation is being coordinated through the Swansea Public Services Board, which brings together South Wales Police, Swansea Council, Swansea Bay University Health Board and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Council leader Rob Stewart had pledged at the outset that the project would run alongside a separate regeneration programme expected to bring up to £20 million of investment into Dyfatty over the next decade.

The early results suggest the intensive enforcement phase is having a tangible effect on the ground. Police have not yet detailed how many of the 28 arrests have led to charges or prosecutions, but the volume of activity in just eight weeks underlines the scale of the operation.

The force has signalled that work will continue in the months ahead, with the stated aim not simply of making arrests but of achieving lasting change for residents who have long borne the brunt of crime and disorder in the area.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Dyfatty crime crackdown: Major police operation targets Swansea hotspot
Our original report on the launch of the Clear Hold Build operation in March.

Dyfatty set for £20m investment boost
The regeneration plans running alongside the police operation.

Dyfatty flats set for major upgrade
Multi-million pound plans to improve ageing council tower blocks in the area.

Padel courts, zip wire and a year-round lido: Swansea’s big plans for the bay — but no answers on the slip bridge

The plans were presented to councillors at a meeting of the economy and infrastructure service transformation committee on 2 April, where a feasibility study commissioned in 2024 was laid out in full for the first time.

The study covers the foreshore corridor from West Pier at Swansea Marina all the way to the Clyne River Bridge at Blackpill — deliberately steering clear of the Civic Centre site, which is already being redeveloped by Urban Splash, and Mumbles, where a major seawall and promenade project has recently been completed.

Steve Hopkins, the council’s strategic manager for tourism, marketing and special events, told councillors that tourism is already worth £658 million a year to Swansea’s economy and supports 5,400 jobs, with 4.62 million visitors recorded in 2024. But the study was blunt about the bay’s shortcomings. The official report identifies a “lack of vibrancy and facilities along the foreshore” and an “undefined unique selling point” compared to other UK seaside destinations, with the road dominating and facilities in poor condition in places.

Nearly 800 people were consulted as part of the study — including seafront businesses, beach users, residents and councillors — and the message was consistent: more eateries, better toilets, improved seating, barbecue spots, public art, viewing platforms, beach-related retail and easier access to the beach itself. Better and cheaper parking also came through strongly, as did a call for the Swansea Bay Rider land train service to be extended eastward past St Helens, in addition to its current westward run towards Mumbles.

The study divides the foreshore into a series of distinct zones. The promenade area closest to the Civic Centre would get separate “fast” and “slow” routes for cyclists and pedestrians, widened surfaces, new seating, tree planting, improved lighting and a new signature sculpture. The St Helens activity zone — which will see the Ospreys return to St Helens Stadium — would get improved public realm to make the matchday and events experience better for spectators, with pop-up food stalls and a large screen among the ideas. The ecology area near the foot golf site would become a nature education centre, using the existing building, with better interpretation and footpaths allowing visitors to explore SSSI habitats closer to the shore.

The centrepiece of the near-term ambitions is Blackpill. The study proposes significantly expanding the lido and surrounding area, with a relocated zip line and crazy golf from Singleton Park, a new flexible events space with a tensile structure for all-year use, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Clyne River, formalised beach access points, planting to improve the road frontage and food and drink including a beach bar. The aim is to make the lido somewhere people visit in January as well as July.

Padel courts are also specifically proposed near the Singleton Park boating lake, alongside upgraded kiosks, terraced banks and improved planting. Hopkins acknowledged the sport’s rapid spread — “dare I say it, padel courts, they don’t seem to be going away,” he told the committee — but said the foreshore offered a great backdrop for the right facility in the right place. Beach sports zones and designated family areas are also in the mix.

Tracey McNulty, head of cultural services, parks and cleansing, was clear that the plans were early-stage. “At this moment the proposals are very much about improving things gently rather than building new things,” she told the committee. The study is not yet an adopted strategy and no funding has been secured. The next step, officers say, is to develop the proposals into worked-up schemes ready to bid for capital funding when opportunities arise — whether through Welsh Government regeneration grants, tourism funding, active travel budgets or partnership with organisations including Swansea University and the Welsh Wildlife Trusts.

Committee chair Cllr Phil Downing welcomed the report but asked whether new commercial activity along the foreshore could drain footfall from the city centre — a concern officers said they had factored in, with the aim being to attract new visitors rather than displace existing spending. Cllr Mike White called the bay “absolutely tremendous” and asked about beach volleyball, log cabin lookout points and whether boats could return to the boating lake, citing busy volleyball events he had seen in Bournemouth as an example of what the space could host.

One question councillors couldn’t get a straight answer on was the future of the slip bridge. Cllr White raised it directly, but Tracey McNulty told the committee it hadn’t been included in the study, describing it as “a live topic, an issue structurally with highways” and adding that she wasn’t party to that discussion. The slip bridge — a much-loved Victorian iron footbridge that once connected the promenade to the foreshore near St Helens — remains dismantled, with its arch currently sitting on the cycle path near St Helens and the original stone abutments standing unused along Oystermouth Road. Swansea Council has allocated £139,000 to assist the Friends of Swansea Slip Bridge, and campaigners are pushing for a replica built from modern steel after the original 1915 span was deemed beyond repair. But its future remained unresolved at the meeting — and absent from the official report entirely.

Cllr Downing closed the meeting on a lighter note, suggesting saunas could be added to the foreshore offer for winter visitors.

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SWANSEA: Lauren Bryant named Sportsperson of the Year as city’s sporting heroes celebrated at annual awards

The ceremony, held in association with Freedom Leisure and presented by ultra-endurance athlete and TV presenter Lowri Morgan, brought together 500 guests to recognise the city’s sporting community — from grassroots clubs and volunteers to elite individual performers.

Tracey McNulty, Head of Cultural Services, Parks and Cleansing at Swansea Council, said this year’s winners reflected the full range of the city’s sporting life. “These awards once again highlight the incredible depth of sporting talent we have in Swansea,” she said.

“This year’s winners reflect the full spectrum of our sporting community, from the volunteers and coaches who give countless hours behind the scenes, to the dedicated individuals and teams who continue to excel in their disciplines.”

Craig Jones, General Manager at Freedom Leisure’s Swansea LC, said sport had a unique ability to bring communities together. “Events like these highlight the important role physical activity plays in improving health, wellbeing and community spirit,” he said. “It is a privilege for Freedom Leisure to recognise and support those who make such a difference.”

Lauren Bryant took the top individual prize on the night, named Sportsperson of the Year in an award sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited. Ken Wright received the Lifetime Contribution to Sport award, also sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited.

Among the junior honours, Jacob Robert Morgan Davies was named Junior Sportsman of the Year and Kaitlin Gourlay took Junior Sportswoman of the Year. The School Team of the Year award went to the Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr Year 9 Rugby Team.

Eleanor Organ won Junior Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, sponsored by Stowe Family Law, while Chloe Morgan was named Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability. Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven received both the Volunteer of the Year award and the Getting Swansea Active Award.

In the club and team categories, Mumbles Rangers Girls Section won Junior Club or Team of the Year, and West Swansea Hawks Ladies RFC took Senior Club or Team of the Year. Pontlliw Primary School Young Ambassadors received the Swansea Young Ambassador Recognition Award.

The coaching awards went to Andrew Williams, named Community Coach of the Year sponsored by Specsavers, and Gareth Jones, who won Performance Coach of the Year. Keisha Wilde received the Inspiring Young Person of the Year award, and David Huxtable was given the Special Recognition Award.

The full list of winners is below.

Sportsperson of the Year — Lauren Bryant (sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited)

Lifetime Contribution to Sport — Ken Wright (sponsored by Andrew D’Auria Solutions Limited)

Junior Sportsman of the Year — Jacob Robert Morgan Davies (sponsored by Childcare Offer for Wales)

Junior Sportswoman of the Year — Kaitlin Gourlay (sponsored by Specsavers)

Junior Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability — Eleanor Organ (sponsored by Stowe Family Law)

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability — Chloe Morgan (supported by Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme)

Volunteer of the Year — Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven (sponsored by EYST Wales)

Getting Swansea Active Award — Sindhu Bhairavi Mahadeven (supported by Enjoy Swansea)

Community Coach of the Year — Andrew Williams (sponsored by Specsavers)

Performance Coach of the Year — Gareth Jones (supported by The National Institute for Sport & Health)

Inspiring Young Person of the Year — Keisha Wilde (sponsored by Arvato Connect)

Special Recognition Award — David Huxtable (supported by Freedom Leisure)

Junior Club or Team of the Year — Mumbles Rangers Girls Section (sponsored by Route Media)

Senior Club or Team of the Year — West Swansea Hawks Ladies RFC (supported by 60+ Active Leisure Scheme)

School Team of the Year — Ysgol Gyfun Gwŷr Year 9 Rugby Team (sponsored by Gower College Swansea)

Swansea Young Ambassador Recognition Award — Pontlliw Primary School Young Ambassadors (sponsored by Youth Sport Trust)

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SWANSEA: Police impose 48-hour dispersal order on city centre after Easter holiday disorder

The Section 35 order, granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, came into force on Wednesday and runs until 9.30am on Friday 10 April. It covers a wide area including the Quadrant shopping centre and bus station, Parc Tawe, the Kingsway, Dyfatty, and the area surrounding the National Waterfront Museum.

A Section 35 order gives police the power to instruct anyone who is causing — or is likely to cause — harassment, alarm or distress to leave a defined area for up to 48 hours. Refusing to leave when directed by an officer is a criminal offence, as is returning to the area within the specified period.

Acting Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the order had been authorised following an unacceptable number of reports of youths congregating and causing violence and disorder.

“We are increasing our patrols in the area and intensifying our approach,” he said. “This means that any young person found committing anti-social behaviour in the area will face formal action.”

Among the incidents prompting the order, a police officer was assaulted by a 14-year-old girl, who was subsequently arrested. A teenage boy was also arrested for engaging in disorder over the weekend, with his mother having to collect him from the custody suite.

Acting Chief Inspector Hedley issued a direct message to parents. “I would urge parents to assist us by checking where their children are going and what activities they are engaging in,” he said. “On the weekend, one mother experienced the stress of having to come to collect her son from the custody suite after he had been arrested for engaging in disorder — this is not a scenario we want to see repeated.”

He added: “Officers will not hesitate to enforce these extra powers in order to keep the community safe. Everyone should be able to come into Swansea city centre during the sunny weather and enjoy their time free of any form of harassment or anti-social behaviour.”

The inclusion of Dyfatty in the dispersal zone is significant. South Wales Police launched the Dyfatty Clear Hold Build project in March — a major long-term operation targeting serious organised crime, anti-social behaviour and community safety concerns in the area around High Street North and the nearby tower blocks. The project follows a national model backed by the Home Office, with a year-long police crackdown as its first phase.

Running alongside the policing operation is a £20 million regeneration programme aimed at transforming Dyfatty over the next decade. Swansea West MP Torsten Bell has urged residents to help shape the investment, which is intended to address the deep-rooted social and economic challenges in the neighbourhood.

A similar Section 35 order was imposed in Gorseinon earlier this year following a rise in anti-social behaviour there.

The dispersal order expires at 9.30am on Friday 10 April. Anyone with information about disorder in the area is asked to contact South Wales Police.

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Swansea neighbourhood handed £20m boost as MP urges residents to shape decade of investment
A major regeneration programme will invest up to £20 million in Dyfatty over the next decade.

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Safer Swansea city centre wins top UK award as crime falls
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KILVEY HILL: Police warn protesters action will follow as demonstration continues over Skyline development

South Wales Police has issued a public warning to protesters on Kilvey Hill that officers will take action against anyone breaking the law, as ongoing protest activity continues at the site of the controversial Skyline development in Swansea.

In a statement published on social media, the force said it was aware of protest activity taking place in the Kilvey Hill area in relation to development work at the site, and that while it supported the right to peaceful protest, that right came with legal limits.

“We support the right for people to make their voices heard through protest providing it is done lawfully,” the force said. “Decisions about how to police protests require consideration of complex and often competing rights and issues.”

The statement added that officers would act against those who broke the law, whether at the time of the offence or after the fact. “We will take action against anyone who breaks the law, whether this is at the time of the offence or retrospectively,” police said.

However, at least one resident, supportive of the protesters, has pushed back on any suggestion that protest activity is behind whatever prompted the police warning. Anita Aamp, who has commented publicly on the development online, said those who had opposed the scheme had always done so peacefully and within the law, and had maintained regular contact with local officers throughout. “I can pretty much assure you that whatever has happened on the hill has nothing to do with any protests,” she said, suggesting that with the Easter school holidays under way, police might want to “look further afield, as you normally would.”

The Skyline development — a multi-million pound leisure scheme backed by £4m in Welsh Government funding — has been one of the most contentious planning projects in Swansea in recent years. The project, which includes a cable car, luge runs and other visitor attractions, was approved by Swansea Council and is projected to bring significant economic benefits to the city, with reports suggesting it could generate substantial visitor numbers and support job creation in the area.

Supporters of the scheme point to the long-term regeneration potential of Kilvey Hill, arguing that the removal of diseased non-native trees is a necessary precursor to replanting with broadleaf native species, and that the development will transform a largely neglected hillside into a world-class tourism destination.

Opposition has come primarily from a vocal group of local residents living close to the hill, who have raised concerns about the impact on the area’s ecology and community character. Among the flashpoints was the fate of the Green Man of Kilvey — a wire and moss sculpture built by local man Pete Thomas in 1998 — which was left exposed in a cleared landscape after felling work began. Kilvey Woodland Volunteers described it as the “eviction” of a community icon that had stood for nearly 30 years. Skyline Swansea said the sculpture remained a priority and that they were committed to securing its future on the hill.

The controversy also took a political turn in February when Cllr Joe Hale posted a video announcing he was leaving Labour over the development. A statement from the office of council leader Rob Stewart subsequently confirmed that Cllr Hale had been suspended by the party six days before his video, following allegations of malicious communications and harassment that were also referred to South Wales Police. Cllr Hale denied being suspended, saying he had resigned over Skyline.

Both Swansea Council and Skyline Swansea have been actively countering what they describe as misinformation circulating online. The council confirmed that all tree felling had been carried out with planning consent granted in July 2025, and that Natural Resources Wales was consulted throughout the planning process. Developers have also said that ecology concerns raised by campaigners have been addressed.

South Wales Police said it remained open to dialogue with advocacy groups and that its approach would reflect “the values of fairness, equality, and justice.”

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Councillor denies being suspended by Labour — says he quit over Skyline
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TOWNHILL: Social housing developer plans 27 affordable homes on derelict nursery site

A derelict plot in Townhill — one of Wales’s oldest council-built communities — could be about to get a new lease of life, with plans lodged for 27 affordable apartments on land that has sat empty since the demolition of a nursery school more than a decade ago.

The proposal, submitted by Swansea planning agents Asbri Planning, would see the former Bryn Nursery School site at the junction of Townhill Road and Tower Gardens transformed into a 100% affordable housing development — every home ring-fenced for people who cannot afford to buy or rent on the open market.

Behind the scheme is Castell Group, a Swansea Vale-based developer that specialises in affordable and social housing across south Wales, working with registered social landlords including Caredig and Hafod.

The site has a long and frustrated planning history. Bryn Nursery School closed in 2005 and was demolished around 2011, leaving a vacant brownfield plot on one of Townhill’s main roads. Earlier proposals for a 58-bed care home were approved but never built. In 2021, budget supermarket chain Heron Foods — owned by B&M — twice applied to build a small express-format store on the site, only for both applications to be refused by Swansea Council on retail and highway grounds. The land has remained empty ever since.

The development would sit in a neighbourhood with a particular place in Welsh housing history. Townhill — built on the hillside above the city from the 1920s onwards — was one of the first purpose-built council communities in Wales, planned to provide decent homes for Swansea’s working-class population at a time when much of the city’s housing was overcrowded and inadequate. A century on, the demand for affordable homes here hasn’t gone away.

The proposed development would comprise 17 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments across several two and three storey brick-built blocks with pitched roofs, in keeping with the surrounding streets. The site — currently overgrown scrubland that has regenerated since the old nursery came down — is just 150 metres from Townhill’s local centre, within walking distance of shops, a pharmacy, a library and a primary school, and close to bus services into Swansea city centre and Morriston Hospital.

The scheme has already been through informal discussions with Swansea Council, which confirmed that the principle of residential development here was acceptable. The original proposal was for 33 units, but this was reduced to 27 following council feedback about the site’s proximity to Tower Court — a supported independent living scheme for older residents next door. A flat roof design was also rejected by planners who noted that the surrounding area is entirely pitched-roof in character.

The plans include 22 parking spaces, secure cycle storage, extensive landscaping and tree planting, sustainable urban drainage, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

The public consultation runs until 24 April 2026.

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Former department store to be transformed into arts hub thanks to £780k Welsh Government grant

The former JT Morgan department store in Swansea city centre has been vacant for more than 15 years and this renovation will transform it into a multi-purpose arts centre.

Elysium Art Limited, an artist led organisation, is delivering the project to support and promote the arts in Swansea and beyond.

The project will create a new cultural destination in Swansea city centre, helping to regenerate the area and attract more visitors.

Once renovated, the first and second floors will be used as lettable studio space for artists, with the ground floor being used for a gallery, meeting spaces and a café.

The basement refurbishment will provide additional studio space, storage and potentially a small cinema.

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, recently visited the building: “This investment perfectly aligns with our Programme for Government commitments to make our towns and cities better places to live and work, while tackling the issue of empty buildings.  

“By breathing new life into this disused space, we’re not only enhancing Swansea’s cultural offering but also creating opportunities for local artists and generating increased footfall that will benefit other businesses in the city centre.  

“Our Transforming Towns funding is about supporting communities to reimagine their urban spaces, and this project is an excellent example of how strategic investment can deliver multiple benefits.”  

Works are already underway and the first and second floors are expected to be completed by the summer.  

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said: “It’s fantastic that we can work with developers, businesses and other organisations to invest Welsh Government Transforming Towns grant funding across our city.  

“The council-driven £1bn regeneration programme is powering ahead – and projects such as Elysium Art at the former JT Morgan and Y Storfa at the former BHS are great examples of that.  

“Other notable advances coming soon include the transformation of Castle Square into a greener more welcoming public focal point and the opening of the groundbreaking Biophilic Living building between The Kingsway and Oxford Street.”  

The Cabinet Secretary also visited Y Storfa, the former BHS department store on Oxford Street, which is set to become a public services hub, providing access to council services and hosting a range of other services including the West Glamorgan Archive Service and external partners including Citizens’ Advice.  

The project has received more than £13m in both loan and grant funding from the Welsh Government.  

#Art #CllrRobStewart #ElysiumGallery #JayneBryantMS #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TransformingTowns #WelshGovernment

Members of community groups inspired to create city centre public art

It has been installed on hoardings around the emerging Y Storfa building at the corner of Oxford Street and Princess Way.

The community participants came from groups such as Swansea Libraries and Swansea Asylum Seekers Support plus the council’s services for lifelong learning and for young adults with additional learning needs or learning disability.

They were assisted over a process of several months by professional South Wales-based artist Natalie Hemingway.

The activity, funded by Y Storfa contractors Kier, was managed by Swansea Council which is developing Y Storfa as a community services hub, including central library. It’s due to open this year.

On March 27, the participants gathered outside Y Storfa to celebrate their work being exhibited for city centre visitors to enjoy.

Council cabinet member Elliott King said: “I’m delighted that such a diverse range of individuals came together to produce this fantastic new public art.

“It helps to celebrate Swansea’s past and future – along with the city’s people.

“Their work is being enjoyed by tens of thousands of people who visit the city centre for work, shopping, education or to spend quality free time.”

Artist Natalie Hemingway said: “It was a pleasure to work with all the community artists on this project.

“They embraced the area’s history and learned new skills – and have produced a celebration of local culture at the heart of their city centre.”

Ian Rees, regional director at Kier Construction, said: “It’s great to see this fantastic artwork up on the hoardings surrounding Y Storfa.

“Thank you to the talented volunteer artists who have spent time and effort creating these wonderful pieces.

“It’s certainly attracting a lot of positive attention locally and really building on the excitement surrounding this project.”

The artwork is inspired by the heritage, humanity and diversity of Swansea city centre.

Source material included images and maps from the council-managed West Glamorgan Archive Service, one of the services due to move to Y Storfa in the months to come.

The participants were also inspired by their positive experiences of living in Swansea.

Their work on the eight vinyl panels – each measuring 2x3m – includes street scenes, calligraphy and self portraits.

It’s part of the Your Store, Your Story project, telling stories of the building – once a British Home Stores (BHS) – and the immediate area.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#Art #BHS #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #YStorfa

Swansea kids encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school

The Sustrans ‘Big Walk and Wheel’ event takes place between 25 March and 4 April and aims to build pupils’ confidence, resilience and life-long healthy habits.

Among the schools taking part is Penyrheol Primary who say that active travel is part of everyday school life.

The school say that by the time children leave nursery, they can confidently ride a balance bike, mastering essential skills like stopping, gliding, and manoeuvring around obstacles.

By the end of reception, every pupil can ride a two-wheeled bike, demonstrating the school’s dedication to ensuring children develop essential cycling skills from an early age.

Headteacher Alison Williams said: “Learning to ride a bike is more than just a skill—it builds resilience, independence, and confidence that children carry with them into many other areas of their lives and learning.

“The school’s efforts are supported by an enthusiastic parent community, many of whom enjoy walking or cycling to school with their children. One parent remarked it’s a great to keep your steps up while supporting your child’s active journey to school.

“There are also great ideas for future plans to promote daily active travel building on the outstanding support from Sustrans.

“This year’s Big Wheel Active Travel Event will feature a range of exciting activities, including the Bling Your Bike/Scooter/Boots which is a fun and creative event encouraging pupils to decorate their bikes and scooters to celebrate the benefits of active travel in a colourful and engaging way. 

“Pupils and staff will also be meeting early on the local community green area to travel to school together with the school well-being dog Gracie.”

Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “It’s wonderful to see so many schools in Swansea taking part in the Sustrans event and learning about the benefits of keeping active and healthy.

“In Swansea we have over 120km of great cycle and walking routes and we are working to develop even more.” 

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

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More artwork unveiled at Mumbles sea defence project

The concrete-mould design is based on work by Swansea-based artist Catrin Jones, with images including pebbles, oyster boats and a lifeboat.

The panel complements one at Oyster Wharf that depicts oysters, oystercatcher birds, fish, mermaid’s purses, starfish & pebbles.

The decorations on the wall have been praised by locals and on social media.

Writing on social media, Lesley Phillips said: “Looks great. Mumbles needed a face lift and it’s a huge improvement.”

While Val Whittington said: “Looks lovely and very appropriate!”

The Mumbles coastal protection scheme being delivered on behalf of the council by main contractor Knights Brown, is due to be largely complete in the second quarter of this year. It’s funded mainly by the Welsh Government.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#Art #CatrinJones #Mumbles #SeaDefences #SwanseaCouncil

The Hobbit takes a Welsh twist at Morriston Library

Adam Pearce will be talking about how he translated JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit into Welsh for the first time at two events – one in Welsh, the other in English at 1pm and 2pm, respectively.

Translated as Yr Hobyd, The Hobbit tells of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Middle Earth, dragons, treasure and a ring of gold and Adam Pearce brings it all to life through the medium of Welsh.

To go along to the event on Saturday, you must book free tickets by calling 01792 516770 or by emailing [email protected]

Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Equalities, said: “Any fan of a book that was already legendary before the amazing films brought it to an even wider audience, will want to find out more about how Adam translated The Hobbit into Welsh.

“The Hobbit has already been translated into many languages, from Dutch and Latin to Esperanto and Faroese, but never into Welsh. So to have Adam at one of our libraries discussing how and why he did it, is quite a coup.”

Adam has previously translated H.G. Wells into Welsh and works by T. Gwynn Jones and Daniel Owen from Welsh into English.

His translation of The Hobbit has been prepared in accordance with J.R.R. Tolkien’s own instructions for translators of his work and officially licenced by the Tolkien Estate.

Included are J.R.R. Tolkien’s original illustrations and new Welsh versions of the two maps featured in the original novel.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#books #Morriston #MorristonLibrary #SwanseaCouncil #WelshLanguage

The Hobbit takes a Welsh twist at Morriston Library

Adam Pearce will be talking about how he translated JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit into Welsh for the first time at two events – one in Welsh, the other in English at 1pm and 2pm, respectively.

Translated as Yr Hobyd, The Hobbit tells of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Middle Earth, dragons, treasure and a ring of gold and Adam Pearce brings it all to life through the medium of Welsh.

To go along to the event on Saturday, you must book free tickets by calling 01792 516770 or by emailing [email protected]

Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Equalities, said: “Any fan of a book that was already legendary before the amazing films brought it to an even wider audience, will want to find out more about how Adam translated The Hobbit into Welsh.

“The Hobbit has already been translated into many languages, from Dutch and Latin to Esperanto and Faroese, but never into Welsh. So to have Adam at one of our libraries discussing how and why he did it, is quite a coup.”

Adam has previously translated H.G. Wells into Welsh and works by T. Gwynn Jones and Daniel Owen from Welsh into English.

His translation of The Hobbit has been prepared in accordance with J.R.R. Tolkien’s own instructions for translators of his work and officially licenced by the Tolkien Estate.

Included are J.R.R. Tolkien’s original illustrations and new Welsh versions of the two maps featured in the original novel.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#books #Morriston #MorristonLibrary #SwanseaCouncil #WelshLanguage

The Hobbit takes a Welsh twist at Morriston Library

Adam Pearce will be talking about how he translated JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit into Welsh for the first time at two events – one in Welsh, the other in English at 1pm and 2pm, respectively.

Translated as Yr Hobyd, The Hobbit tells of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Middle Earth, dragons, treasure and a ring of gold and Adam Pearce brings it all to life through the medium of Welsh.

To go along to the event on Saturday, you must book free tickets by calling 01792 516770 or by emailing [email protected]

Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Equalities, said: “Any fan of a book that was already legendary before the amazing films brought it to an even wider audience, will want to find out more about how Adam translated The Hobbit into Welsh.

“The Hobbit has already been translated into many languages, from Dutch and Latin to Esperanto and Faroese, but never into Welsh. So to have Adam at one of our libraries discussing how and why he did it, is quite a coup.”

Adam has previously translated H.G. Wells into Welsh and works by T. Gwynn Jones and Daniel Owen from Welsh into English.

His translation of The Hobbit has been prepared in accordance with J.R.R. Tolkien’s own instructions for translators of his work and officially licenced by the Tolkien Estate.

Included are J.R.R. Tolkien’s original illustrations and new Welsh versions of the two maps featured in the original novel.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#books #Morriston #MorristonLibrary #SwanseaCouncil #WelshLanguage

Site investigation works to start on new city office development

Swansea Council say the works are due to start on Monday 17 March and could take over a week to complete.

The council say the work will help pave the way for a new Public Sector Hub scheme that’s aimed at helping boost city centre footfall.

The grassed area outside St David’s Church Hall will be fenced off while the works are ongoing and the council say that every effort will be made to minimise disruption.

The Public Sector Hub will include commercial floor space for shops and restaurants on the ground floor. Swansea Council and a range of other public sector partners will occupy office space above.

Made up of four floors above ground level and one floor below, the council say that hundreds of workers will be based at the Public Sector Hub.

The council and its regeneration partners Urban Splash will develop the proposed new building, with the council retaining ownership.

This would form part of the first phase of the overall site’s redevelopment being led by Urban Splash, who are continuing to work on plans for the rest of the site.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We all want our city centre to succeed and to have more shops and other businesses, but we know more footfall is needed to support our existing traders and attract new investment.

“That’s not just the case in Swansea – it’s the same in many other city and town centres across the UK because of challenges like online shopping.

“Schemes like the Public Sector Hub will combine with many others to locate thousands more jobs in the city centre, which will help boost spending there and encourage more shops to open up.

“This scheme will also enable the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site on the seafront. Our regeneration partners Urban Splash are working on detailed proposals for that site, which will be announced as soon as they’re finalised.”

The council say it’s anticipated construction on the Public Sector Hub itself will start on site by the end of 2025.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#CllrRobStewart #construction #officeDevelopment #PublicSectorHub #regeneration #StDavidSShoppingCentre #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #UrbanSplash

Site investigation works to start on new city office development

Swansea Council say the works are due to start on Monday 17 March and could take over a week to complete.

The council say the work will help pave the way for a new Public Sector Hub scheme that’s aimed at helping boost city centre footfall.

The grassed area outside St David’s Church Hall will be fenced off while the works are ongoing and the council say that every effort will be made to minimise disruption.

The Public Sector Hub will include commercial floor space for shops and restaurants on the ground floor. Swansea Council and a range of other public sector partners will occupy office space above.

Made up of four floors above ground level and one floor below, the council say that hundreds of workers will be based at the Public Sector Hub.

The council and its regeneration partners Urban Splash will develop the proposed new building, with the council retaining ownership.

This would form part of the first phase of the overall site’s redevelopment being led by Urban Splash, who are continuing to work on plans for the rest of the site.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We all want our city centre to succeed and to have more shops and other businesses, but we know more footfall is needed to support our existing traders and attract new investment.

“That’s not just the case in Swansea – it’s the same in many other city and town centres across the UK because of challenges like online shopping.

“Schemes like the Public Sector Hub will combine with many others to locate thousands more jobs in the city centre, which will help boost spending there and encourage more shops to open up.

“This scheme will also enable the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site on the seafront. Our regeneration partners Urban Splash are working on detailed proposals for that site, which will be announced as soon as they’re finalised.”

The council say it’s anticipated construction on the Public Sector Hub itself will start on site by the end of 2025.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#CllrRobStewart #construction #officeDevelopment #PublicSectorHub #regeneration #StDavidSShoppingCentre #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #UrbanSplash

Artists set to commemorate those affected by Covid in Swansea

The council has jointly appointed Catrin Jones and Angharad Pearce Jones and makes this announcement just before this Sunday’s UK-wide Covid Day of Reflection.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “The impact of Covid continues to live with us every day.

“We promised all those in Swansea affected by the pandemic – those who lost their lives, their families, our emergency services, social care workers, those who stepped up to support their neighbours and very many more – that we would honour and remember them.

“The memorial will be a permanent focal point of recognition for those that were affected for remembrance and reflection, for the unity that was inspired by our collective experience and hope for the future.

“Swansea’s Covid-19 memorial will be shaped by the voices of those it represents.

“Through community engagement led by the artists and supported by the council, we want to ensure that the location, design and meaning of this tribute reflect the experiences, resilience and memories of Swansea.”

Elliott King, cabinet member for culture and equalities, said: “It will be a challenging piece of work because, for many of us, the impact of the pandemic was felt at such a personal level.

“We’ll never forget those who died or their families. We’ll all have our own stories and memories of sadness, togetherness and hope, and our aspiration is that this will be reflected in the designs Catrin and Angharad bring forward as a unifying and poignant memorial.”

Catrin and Angharad were appointed following an open application process, inviting UK artists to participate. Both artists have created works of public art located across the UK, including in Swansea.

Catrin created the acclaimed sea-life murals on the new seawall in Mumbles. A 50m work in tubular steel created by Angharad and commissioned by Sustrans can be found on railway bridge sidings in Clydach near the Mond Nickel plant.

In their successful submission, the artists said any memorial should commemorate not just the bereaved, but also the health and social care staff, the frontline workers, the scientists who developed the vaccines, and everyone else whose combined efforts played some part in combatting the virus.

They’re aware of how Covid impacted – and continues to have an impact on – society through matters such as long Covid, and children and young people in education. It’s planned that their commission will involve community engagement to create an overarching narrative.

Catrin Jones said: “This is an important commission for both of us and we look forward to working together to deliver a meaningful and poignant piece of public art for Swansea.” 

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#AngharadPearceJones #Art #CatrinJones #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #COVID #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

Artists set to commemorate those affected by Covid in Swansea

The council has jointly appointed Catrin Jones and Angharad Pearce Jones and makes this announcement just before this Sunday’s UK-wide Covid Day of Reflection.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “The impact of Covid continues to live with us every day.

“We promised all those in Swansea affected by the pandemic – those who lost their lives, their families, our emergency services, social care workers, those who stepped up to support their neighbours and very many more – that we would honour and remember them.

“The memorial will be a permanent focal point of recognition for those that were affected for remembrance and reflection, for the unity that was inspired by our collective experience and hope for the future.

“Swansea’s Covid-19 memorial will be shaped by the voices of those it represents.

“Through community engagement led by the artists and supported by the council, we want to ensure that the location, design and meaning of this tribute reflect the experiences, resilience and memories of Swansea.”

Elliott King, cabinet member for culture and equalities, said: “It will be a challenging piece of work because, for many of us, the impact of the pandemic was felt at such a personal level.

“We’ll never forget those who died or their families. We’ll all have our own stories and memories of sadness, togetherness and hope, and our aspiration is that this will be reflected in the designs Catrin and Angharad bring forward as a unifying and poignant memorial.”

Catrin and Angharad were appointed following an open application process, inviting UK artists to participate. Both artists have created works of public art located across the UK, including in Swansea.

Catrin created the acclaimed sea-life murals on the new seawall in Mumbles. A 50m work in tubular steel created by Angharad and commissioned by Sustrans can be found on railway bridge sidings in Clydach near the Mond Nickel plant.

In their successful submission, the artists said any memorial should commemorate not just the bereaved, but also the health and social care staff, the frontline workers, the scientists who developed the vaccines, and everyone else whose combined efforts played some part in combatting the virus.

They’re aware of how Covid impacted – and continues to have an impact on – society through matters such as long Covid, and children and young people in education. It’s planned that their commission will involve community engagement to create an overarching narrative.

Catrin Jones said: “This is an important commission for both of us and we look forward to working together to deliver a meaningful and poignant piece of public art for Swansea.” 

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#AngharadPearceJones #Art #CatrinJones #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #COVID #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil