A large plot of land in the Swansea suburb of Blackpill, where Asda once wanted to build a supermarket, has been put up for sale. The fenced-off site is a couple of hundred yards from the seafront, two miles from Mumbles and covers nearly seven acres. It is mainly bordered by the back gardens of detached houses on Mumbles Road and Glynderwen Crescent, as well as a brook.
Rare Freehold Opportunity
Estate agents Rees Richards and Blyth are handling the sale, and there is no guide price. Director David Blyth said opportunities of this scale very rarely come to market.
"The land at Blackpill offers a rare chance to acquire a substantial freehold site on the Swansea seafront in one of the most sought-after residential locations in South Wales," he said. "We are seeking an investor or developer to acquire the site and bring forward a scheme that reflects the quality of the location. Offers are invited on an unconditional freehold basis, and the site may suit a range of uses, subject to the necessary consents."
Previous Supermarket Plans
Asda submitted plans just over 20 years ago for a supermarket there with 433 parking spaces, which led to local concerns about traffic congestion on Mumbles Road, flood risk and the impact on shops in surrounding areas. Asda said at the time it believed the supermarket would benefit businesses in the area, that it proposed a new overflow pond to collect excess water from the adjacent brook, and that Mumbles Road traffic would be cut because people from Swansea West and Mumbles would not have to travel into the city centre for their nearest supermarket. Asda later withdrew its plans for the site.
The land is identified as being at risk from river flooding by environment regulator Natural Resources Wales.
Local Reaction and Future Use
Ward councillor Mike Day said different ideas had been put forward for the site, which has been left to nature, including use as a park and ride. "Clearly this is a commercial decision in terms of the disposal of the land, and it would be subject to various planning constraints," he said.
The land is bordered at one end by a former Mumbles Road petrol station site which has been vacant for years. Five years ago Lidl submitted plans for a new store at the petrol station site with 60 parking spaces. There were 171 objections and 56 expressions of support. Two years later Lidl withdrew its application, citing delays in the planning process affecting an arrangement it had with the landowner. Swansea Council, which does not own the site, said it was not to blame and that it had asked Lidl for supporting documents a number of times.
Cllr Day recalled a mixed reaction to Lidl's plans. He said: "Some people were saying: 'We could do with something like that.' Others were saying: 'If it was a Waitrose it might not be so bad.'"
