The final cost of converting two former retail units in Swansea city centre into a library, archives store, and services hub has reached £28.2 million, according to newly released figures. The Y Storfa project, located on the corner of Oxford Street and Princess Way, was funded through a combination of external grants, a loan, and council borrowing.
Opposition Criticism and Council Defence
Opposition leader Councillor Chris Holley described the £28.2 million price tag—which includes design fees and the purchase of the former BHS and Miss Selfridge stores—as “quite astonishing,” though he acknowledged it was good to see the facility open. His comments came during a cabinet meeting where Labour leaders approved the sources of recent funding for the project. The total funding made available reached £29 million, which cabinet members emphasized meant the scheme came in under its overall budget.
Councillor David Hopkins, cabinet member for investment and delivery, called Y Storfa a “fantastic example of regeneration in the city.” Council leader Rob Stewart said the multi-purpose building, which opened in December 2025, has been a success. “It has clearly been the right thing to do,” he stated.
Project Evolution and Cost Increases
The council initially acquired the former BHS store in 2021 for the new hub, then expanded the project by purchasing the adjacent Miss Selfridge building a year later. The aim was to relocate the central library and archives from the Civic Centre to a more central location. In 2022, a scrutiny committee heard the budget had risen and was likely to exceed £15 million. A senior officer told the committee: “It will be a fantastic scheme but it won’t be a flamboyant, expensive scheme.” By 2023, following an exempt cabinet report, the council did not comment on claims that costs could reach just over £25 million.
A report to cabinet on July 16 detailed factors behind the cost increases. “Whilst surveys were undertaken at the earliest possible stage to inform design development, with appropriate allowances made for areas that could not be accessed, the progression of works on site identified a range of unforeseen issues,” the report said. “These included, but were not limited to, missing foundations, additional asbestos, and structural deficiencies. As a result, the overall scale and scope of works increased significantly.”
During construction in 2024, structural problems emerged, including missing foundations, deteriorated lintels, and the need for additional support to the roof and façade elements. Measures such as value engineering were implemented to minimize costs. The resulting building is modern, energy-efficient, and spans 7,400 square metres.
Funding and Footfall
External grants of just under £11 million helped finance the scheme. The report indicated that Y Storfa’s daily footfall is approximately 1,420, with more people using the library and archives service than at the previous location. Councillor Stewart noted: “Having a facility like this in the core city centre not only is great for the public but it also helps the businesses around it in terms of that subsequent footfall.”
Councillor Elliott King, cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, said after the meeting: “We wanted to create something welcoming, useful and accessible for everyone, and it’s wonderful to see so many people making it part of their everyday lives.” The seafront Civic Centre, meanwhile, is set to be redeveloped into a retail, leisure, and residential complex.
