Detailed plans to transform Swansea's vast but “inward-facing” civic centre into flats, shops, cafes and an aquarium have been unveiled. The application, submitted by council development partner Urban Splash, includes ground and first-floor commercial and leisure use of the seafront building with up to 138 one- to three-bedroom flats above.
Included in the mix is an events space and an aquarium hosting interactive displays, exhibitions and real-life double-height fish tanks. A key aim is to maximise the civic centre's bay-facing location and create a destination where people want to come and spend time – and the beachfront promenade would be widened and improved.
£20m funding and public support
The UK Government is providing £20 million towards the scheme, which is being taken forward following consultations. The company's new change of use planning application described the civic centre, built in two phases between 1979 and 1984, as robust but “largely inward-looking” and occupying the land “in a defensive manner” like a castle surrounded by a moat.
Planning documents said there has been overwhelming public support so far for retaining and re-purposing the four- to six-storey building, improving the connection between the city centre and seafront and enhancing greenery.
Aquarium and residential details
Referring to the proposed aquarium, the documents said visitors entering the operator-run attraction “are guided through a sequence of spaces designed to transform and deepen their understanding of marine life”. These spaces would feature a mix of digital and natural installations. The aquarium's first floor would be geared more as an educational zone, with visitors passing through the gift shop before arriving at the building's large central atrium, which would have food and retail outlets.
Some people living in the flats would have balconies and there'd also be a communal roof garden for them. Parking for residents is planned onsite and through what the planning documents referred to as “managed use of the wider civic centre parking estate”, while no dedicated parking is proposed for visitors to the shops, cafes and aquarium. There would be cycle storage for residents, visitors and staff, and a new walking route is planned to the building from the indoor arena side of Oystermouth Road.
Future phases and next steps
Further phases of redevelopment could create hundreds more flats in new buildings either side of the civic centre, and a saltwater lido is being explored at the bottom of the stepped coastal wall below. Urban Splash development director David Warburton said: “We're grateful to everyone who took part in the consultations and shared their feedback. We have taken those conversations on board and have now lodged our detailed planning application; it's a significant step towards transforming this stretch of Swansea's seafront into a vibrant hub that serves the local community and attracts visitors from across Wales and beyond.”
Mr Warburton said: “We look forward to progressing the civic centre project and delivering something that Swansea can be proud of for decades to come.” Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in February this year he said the building was in good condition and “eminently convertible”. Referring to Urban Splash's focus on regenerating existing sites, he said: “Our role is to recognise the inherent value in properties like this which others don't.” People will have the chance to comment on the application, which is being assessed by council planning officers.
