Shaping Swansea FAQs

So what's all this about?

Shaping Swansea is about the council looking to bring in a private sector development partner to carry on the regeneration of the city, building on all the good work undertaken to date. Shaping Swansea is a term that brings together - in the first instance - seven council-owned sites in and around the city centre. We want to develop each one in its own way as we work to improve the city for all who live here, work here, study here and visit. We may bring other sites into the scheme as and when they become available. It's a major project that'll be funded by the private sector and delivered in phases over the coming two decades.

Isn't this just another collection of architect drawings that won't come to fruition?

It's important to offer the public an idea of what's planned in their city - and we'll continue to do that. We produced artist's impressions for key schemes such as The Kingsway and Copr Bay - and those schemes are being delivered.

What say will the public have in this?

A lot! Each individual scheme within the Shaping Swansea portfolio - including the Civic Centre site, the St Thomas site and the Swansea Central North - will be subject to public consultation and a formal planning process. We urge you to get involved and to take every chance to have your say just as you have done in recent consultations on projects such as Copr Bay, Castle Square and the city centre community hub we plan for the former BHS/What? building.

Where's the money coming from to build all these new projects?

The private sector - in arrangements made by Urban Splash and their partners, with council oversight. In short, the deal is that the council is providing the land, the developers are providing the money. We'll work together closely on ideas, fine-tuning them in consultation with the public to bring them to fruition. There may be a need for some relatively modest gap funding; the council may assist in seeking funding sources when projects are in their early stages.

Why does Swansea need to make these changes?

We want to improve parts of the city to attract new opportunities for local people. Shaping Swansea's initial ideas are part of the council's £1bn regeneration programme which will make the city a more attractive place in which to live, work, study and spend quality free time. The programme is being kick-started by the £135m Copr Bay scheme that's nearing completion and will bring new business, leisure and residential opportunities to local people. Nearby, many more millions of pounds are being invested by the public and private sectors. In any city it is important to have private sector activity that brings creativity and vitality.

When can we expect all this to happen?

Shaping Swansea is a long-term project that will happen in phases over potentially  20 years. Not all aspects will be delivered at the same time - that would be impractical. You can expect to see the individual schemes start, progress and finish at different times.

What are the sites being developed?

There are seven currently in the portfolio - and there could be more as and when they become available. The seven are the Civic Centre site, the St Thomas riverbank site, Swansea Central North, a 2.8-acre site close to the Sailbridge that crosses the Tawe to SA1, a 1.3-acre marina site next to the observatory building, a one-acre Oxford Street site that currently accommodates a small car park and the 22-acre Hafod Morfa Copperworks site, building on improvement works already being carried out there.

How were Urban Splash selected as the council's development partner?

We ran a worldwide procurement process that launched last year and attracted a number of excellent bids from top quality potential partners. They were each asked to offer initial ideas on three sites - the Civic Centre, the St Thomas riverside site and the Swansea Central North site. Urban Splash stood out due to their creative thinking on those sites and great experience. You can find out more about them on their website - www.urbansplash.co.uk.

So what can we expect next?

It's now the role of Urban Splash to work with the council - in close liaison with the public - to develop initial ideas they have already put forward for three sites. We will keep you fully informed as things progress - as we have done with Copr Bay, The Kingsway and ongoing projects such as 71-72 The Kingsway, the Palace Theatre building, Castle Square and Wind Street.