Latest news with #RobStewart
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd hears Swansea Bay city deal ‘well on its way'
Rob Stewart said six projects had been completed – to a value of £210m – by the end of 2024/25 as part of the £1.3bn Swansea Bay city deal, which was signed in 2017. Cllr Stewart, who chairs the Swansea Bay city region joint committee, told the Senedd's economy committee a further 19 projects, valued at £761m, are in the pipeline. The leader of Swansea council pointed to 'significant progress' in moving projects from the feasibility stage to completion, with the 71/72 Kingsway project in Swansea set to open. He stressed the Swansea deal had very different terms and conditions to the Cardiff capital region city deal, which was agreed with a different UK Government. The Labour politician said 896 jobs have been created so far – against an initial target of 9,700 – and the city deal has leveraged £133m of private-sector investment. Pressed about jobs numbers, Cllr Stewart said councils had to jump through a lot of hoops, which took a long time, and the job creation numbers have started to accelerate. He was hopeful of hitting or even exceeding the 9,700 target. Giving evidence on June 26, he told the committee that Pembroke Dock infrastructure upgrades and Trinity Saint David's 'innovation matrix' building have been completed.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Nearly £3m council funding has been approved for this new office block in Swansea
Nearly £3m council funding has been approved for this new office block in Swansea The aim is start work in spring or early summer next year An image of the office building which will go up between St Mary's Church, Swansea and the new multi-storey car park off Albert Row (Image: Swansea Council ) Council chiefs in Swansea have committed nearly £3 million towards another new office block in the city centre. The five-storey building has planning permission and will take shape on land between St Mary's Church and the new multi-storey car park off Albert Row. It has always been described as being a public sector office building, or hub, but private sector interest will also be sought now for some of the office space. The ground floor will have commercial units while public sector organisations, and potentially some private sector ones, will occupy the four floors above. Cabinet members heard more about the project at a meeting on June 26 and agreed to allocate £2.95 million to take the project forward, including procuring a contractor, although the actual construction cost won't be known for some time. It emerged that the council will only occupy one floor of the new building instead of two as had been proposed, but this will still enable it to finally decant all staff from the seafront Civic Centre. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Council leader Rob Stewart said the authority was in discussions with the Welsh and UK Governments about the potential relocation of some of their staff to the new block. This is where the office block will be built (Image: Richard Youle ) Article continues below The council has previously commissioned a new office block on The Kingsway - 71/72 The Kingsway - which is due to open shortly, while new office space has also been created by a private sector firm on the corner of Princess Way and St Mary Street. Two tenants have been announced for 71/72 The Kingsway - travel company TUI and workspace provider IWG Ltd - which will occupy just over a quarter of the five-storey building. Cllr Stewart said high quality office and mixed-use space was "hugely important if we are to continue to regenerate the city centre" and that "strong demand is building" for 71/72 The Kingsway. The new block is part of a wider regeneration project planned for the surrounding area, known as Swansea Central, in collaboration with a council development partner called Urban Splash. If all goes to plan for the authority and Urban Splash there'll be new shops, restaurants and walkways, as well as the office block, connecting to the city centre at one end and the new Copr Bay development at the other. The Copr Bay development comprises the new but unfinished multi-storey car park, flats, commercial units, yellow pedestrian bridge across Oystermouth Road and the Swansea Building Society Arena. A report before cabinet said the aim was to finalise design work for the office block this year, appoint a contractor and break ground in April, May or June 2026 and complete the building in October, November or December 2027. It added there were already interested parties in the office space. Cabinet has previously allocated £2.68 million in pre-development and other costs to move the project forward. Deputy council leader Andrea Lewis seconded the report. "It has been a huge amount of work to get us to this stage and it's great to see this report here today," she said. Article continues below
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
'Do not click' warning as scam emails target residents of Welsh city
'Do not click' warning as scam emails target residents of Welsh city The scam emails claim to be about their council tax People have been told to delete the emails (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) A Welsh council has warned residents not to engage with 'scam emails' that have been sent to people regarding an 'outstanding balance' for council tax. Swansea residents have been sent the messages that appear to be council tax payment reminders. The emails state that the recipient has an outstanding council tax payment on their account and prompts them to click on a link to 'confirm their payment status'. Council Leader Rob Stewart has cautioned people against engaging with the email. The email has the subject 'Council Tax Payment Verification' and is addressed to a 'Household Representative'. It claims to be sent from 'District Tax Administration ' and from 'rh@ An example of the scam email shared by Swansea's Council leader (Image: Rob Stewart ) It reads: 'We're writing to inform you that our system shows an outstanding balance for your council tax. This may represent a genuine non-payment or could be due to processing delays. Article continues below 'To ensure accurate accounting and prevent any service implications, we request that you verify your recent payment activity with our records.' Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here The email then prompts the recipient to click on a link in the email. Warning people on Facebook, Cllr Rob Stewart wrote: ' We have received reports of scam emails being sent to residents. They look like council tax payment reminders e-mail with a fake link to click on - an example is below. 'Please DO NOT click on the link as these are scam emails. These emails are not sent by the Council Tax team and should be deleted.' A Council spokesperson added: 'We're getting reports that residents are receiving emails claiming to be from the council, stating there is an outstanding Council Tax balance due on their account and asking them to click on a link to check their payments. 'The reported e-mails have been sent from 'District Tax Administration ' and from 'rh@ These emails are a scam and should be ignored or deleted. At the moment, the council issues payment reminders by post only.' Article continues below
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come
The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come We've compiled a list of developments across Swansea that have already been delivered, and what comes next Swansea will look very different in the future, and some of it has already begun to take shape (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The figure £1bn is one that has found its place in news, in the council, on the roads, and several promises by the Swansea Council Leader, Rob Stewart. But what is it actually about? According to the Swansea Council this is the total amount of money that is being invested in the city as the part of a massive 'regeneration' drive by the local authority aimed to transform it. Over the years, we have seen several projects by Swansea Council that have already begun to reshape Swansea into something different. Some of this sum has already been spent and though there have been some delays in some projects, there are several that have already been completed and several more currently being undertaken. So where is this money being spent, and who is funding it? We asked Swansea Council exactly this, and have compiled a list of key projects that have been completed, and others that are currently ongoing. Although this is not an exhaustive list, and does not cover some of the projects still being planned, we hope it paints a picture of what has changed in Swansea over the years and what is still to come. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Copr Bay district The Swansea Arena was opened with full pomp and show in 2022 (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Article continues below The Swansea Arena was built as part of the £135m Copr Bay District project, and opened in March 2022 after five long years of hard work. The arena was built by the Swansea Council and forms part of the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District project which is partly funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal. The Copr Bay District project gave birth to adjacent coastal park, car park below, the golden pedestrian bridge across Oystermouth Road, and flats and commercial units opposite. The £135m cost of the project necessitated £96m of council borrowing that was done a low interest rate. This is supposed to be paid back over the course of 40 years, with total borrowing costs amounting to just under £175m. For the project, part of the funding is also coming from the sale of the flats, a Welsh Government loan, and a contribution via the city deal for the Swansea Bay City Region. Since its opening in 2022, the Swansea Arena has attracted more than 750,000 visitors to events like graduations, conferences and creative learning events. It has also attracted major stars like Johnny Depp, and Alice Cooper with The Hollywood Vampires, Gladys Knight and Michael McIntyre. The unfinished multi-storey car park remains a blot on the project (Image: Richard Youle ) Now, the not so good part. Though a major part of the Copr Bay District project has been built, the multi storey car park for the Swansea Arena that was supposed to open close around the same time as the arena, has not opened for years. Initially, the Buckingham Group was selected as the contractor for the project. However, the car park's completion was already being delayed due to problems with the paintwork coating system , and this was further complicated when the Buckingham Group went into administration . Though there is hope. With a new firm being appointed to complete the car park in 2024, the council has recently said that it expects the work to be completed by the end of this year. The Palace theatre building Though it doesn't look much different from the outside, the interior has been completely transformed (Image: Richard Youle ) The rejuvenation of the Palace Theatre, a Grade II listed building located on the Prince of Wales Road in Swansea was one of the flagship projects in the £1bn regeneration program for Swansea. The regeneration project was led and funded by the Swansea council with an investment of over £6.9m from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns initiative. The palace was left to its fate until Swansea Council acquired it and began its extensive transformation process. The improved exterior does not look much different, as it stays true to its original 1888 roots. However, its interior, which spans over six floors and a basement, has now been revamped. While the council is still the owner of the building, it is now operated by Tramshed Tech which offers flexible work space, business growth programmes, and skills and training for the creative, digital and technology sectors. Restoration of Albert Hall The restored Albert Hall was opened in September last year (Image: Richard Youle ) In September last year, another Grade II listed, the Albert Hall located between The Kingsway and De-La-Beche Street was opened after an extensive restoration project. The hall was originally opened as a public assembly hall and concert venue in 1864. After it closed its doors in 2007 as a cinema and bingo hall — its future looked pretty bleak, not much different than the Palace Theatre before its restoration. Then came the company, LoftCo who not only secured a planning permission from the city council, but also a £5.6m Welsh Government grant, so it could buy and restore the site. In total, the project is expected to have cost close to £9m. The current layout can house 450 people on its ground floor and an additional 100 people on its private entertainment areas above it. The venue boasts of four storeys with a ground-floor food hall and bar, with private entertainment space, offices, studios, visitor accommodation, a gym, and a rooftop garden above. The Princess Quarter The glass fronted building is hard to miss (Image: Gareth Danks Photography ) Kartay has recently completed the construction of a a multi-million pound office and commercial project called Princess Quarter, on Princess Way at the site of the former Mamma Mia restaurant. The building is a three storey glass fronted monument that boasts of a 15,000 square feet of office space and offers adaptable retail units on the ground floor. It features a ground-floor reception which has 'luxury communal seating' , alongside concierge service, shower, changing facilities, vanity areas, and secure cycle storage to the rear. Kartay is a development, investment and asset management company, that was set up in 2019. It has since purchased nine 'key buildings" in Swansea's main redevelopment zones. Apart from the Princess Quarter project, the company is also leading the development of Princess House, which is a 10-storey office building in city centre at 1 Oxford Street, a five-storey commercial building that is currently home to McDonalds. It also plans to offer high quality apartments on the upper floors, and retail units at 256 to 260 Oxford Street. Regeneration of Wind Street The changes made in the city are part of a regeneration scheme worth over £1bn (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The Swansea Council has led a £3m project to improve the city's iconic Wind Street. This included new paving, seating, seating, greenery, and dedicated outdoor spaces for the hospitality dining areas. The Amy Dillwyn Park This was the first park in the city centre over several generations, and features a one of the largest green roofs in Wales. Developed by Swansea Council, it was renamed after the Victorian novelist and philanthropist, Amy Dillwyn in March 2024 to mark the International Women's Day. Upgrade to Kingsway to improve its look and feel A sum of £12m was put in by the Swansea Council to improve the 'look and feel' for the city's Kingsway, and its neighbouring streets. The council has expected that the new improvements will bring footfall to encourage new business while supporting existing traders. Council leader Rob Stewart has said that the local authority aims to turn Swansea into one of UK's greenest cities and that this project reflects the council's commitment to do so. Bollards along the Mumbles promenade More than 300 'energy efficient LED lighting bollards' have been installed along the length of the bay. The route is popular among walkers and cyclists who use it frequently in the evenings. Coming through an £400,000 Swansea Council investment, the low-level bollards have been installed every 14 metres along the length of the promenade and are expected to cost just £15 per year to light up. The Innovation Matrix Based at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) SA1 campus, this project is now open, and offers 'opportunities for established businesses and dynamic start-ups to accelerate new product development, access specialist technical support, hire graduate talent and create knowledge exchange partnerships with the university.' The centre is funded through a partnership between the UWTSD and the Swansea Bay City deal. It was built by Kier Construction which has secured £6m worth of contracts with Wales-based businesses during the construction process. Following are some of the ongoing projects in Swansea: 71/72 Kingsway Scheme The posh new office development already has two tenants (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) The council bought the former Oceana building which was located at 71/72 Kingsway in 2015. This purchase was meant to deliver the employment hub proposal that were put forth in Swansea Central Area Regeneration Framework (SCARF). The project was submitted as a part of the wider Digital Programme to Swansea Bay City Deal, and was successful in obtaining £13.71m in City Deal Funding. The revamped building has now been handed over to Swansea Council, and is set to open this summer. First tenants have already been announced for building, with Travel company TUI and workspace provider IWG Ltd set to occupy just over a quarter of the building. The Biophillic Building The building is slated to be constructed later this year (Image: Hacer Developments ) This project aims to give birth to a 13-storey-high building between the city's The Kingsway and Oxford Street. The construction of the tower is being led by the Swansea-based firm, Hacer Devopments. To be powered by solar energy and said to use a 'air source heat system', the building is touted to use five times less energy than a building which is powered by gas boilers. The funding for this scheme is coming from a mixture of private sector funding with money from Welsh Government's Innovative Housing Programme, Pobl and the Development Bank of Wales footing part of the bill. It will include an urban-style greenhouse set over four floors, an education facility featuring an aquaponic system, rooftop gardens, wildflower borders and green spaces, nine floors of apartments to be managed by Pobl, close to 32,000 square feet of commercial floor space for businesses, retail spaces, a landscaped courtyard, and a bio-solar roof with ambient loop heating, and sustainable drainage systems. Swansea Council has said that this building will have the capacity to accommodate more than 500 people once complete, and expects the development to create jobs and home. The project is due to be completed later this year, and latest pictures show the mammoth tower to have spectacular views at the top. Y Storfa community services hub Progress continues to be made at the new community hub (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) This project will be built on the former BHS units on Oxford Street, and aims to provide a multi-purpose hub for the people of Swansea. The Welsh government provided a £2m grant towards the project and an additional £3.5m was also made available to Swansea Council to develop this project into a public focal point. Though the council had hoped that the project could be completed as soon as 2023, the scheme is due for completion this year. Council-run services like Swansea Library, the West Glamorgan Archive Service, Housing Options, lifelong learning, and the Contact Centre will calling the new community hub their home. Non-council tenants are set to include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice and Swansea University's South Wales Miners' Library. Redevelopment of the former JT Morgan building on Belle Vue Way The project is being given funding support by the Welsh Government (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Under the initiative led by Elysium Gallery, the vacant JT Morgan building on Belle Vue Way - which has been unoccupied since 2008 - is set to become a hub for 53 creative entrepreneurs. The space will provide studios for painters, illustrators, sculptors, designers, printmakers, photographers, actors and video editors. The project will also feature a gallery, a function suite, a dedicated education centre and a quiet room. Funding coming from the Swansea Council via the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund is contributing towards the internal works and strip out, as well as enhancements to the roof structure. The project has also received financial support from the Welsh Government through its Transforming Towns scheme. Additional funding has been secured from the Arts Council of Wales, the Architectural Heritage Fund and a community shares initiative. The first phase of work is anticipated to be completed this summer. Restoration of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks How the Vivian and Musgrave Engine Houses could look like in the future (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Swansea Council has approved the plans restore two engine houses at the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site. The project would see a new mezzanine and first floor being built at the Vivian engine house which is expected to be by occupied by tenants. The Musgrave engine house, which is next to Vivian engine house, will be turned into a exhibition area that will display the original engine. Additionally, a new building joining both the engine houses will also be built. The council, and the people behind the planning application say the new buildings will be available for a number uses like restaurants, cafe, exhibition space and retail. The funding for this project is being done through a mixture of Swansea Council funding, and Welsh Government funding via the levelling-up scheme. The council has successfully bid for £20m of UK Government funding for this project. Restoration of Castle Cinema How the Castle Square development could look like (Image: Swansea Council ) Council says work to restore the city's historic Castle Cinema building is going to start soon. The project is being spearheaded by local non-profit Beacon Cymru and contractors Easy Living Ltd. Plans for the project includes 30 new flats and fresh commercial spaces. The commercial units will occupy the lower part of the building facing the Strand, designed to house small-scale office operations. A two-storey commercial unit is planned on the main elevation overlooking Worcester Place and the castle, intended for café or restaurant use. A proposed glazed box, forming part of this unit, will offer views of the castle and open space. The project is being supported by the Swansea Council, via Welsh Government funding. The Castle Square revamp Work has now started on the council's plan to transform the Castle Square in Swansea. The transformation will see the addition of two pavilion buildings for food, drink or retail businesses; an increase in greenery including new lawns, ornamental and biodiverse planting to provide an area with 40% green space. A new interactive water feature will also be included, along with new outdoor seating areas and a giant TV screen above a bandstand-style facility. Preparatory work has already been undertaken at the site, including the re-laying of high-voltage cables to accommodate the square's future design, a project that has seen significant public engagement. The Leaf Boat sculpture, a distinguishing sight the Castle Square is also being removed in the next phase of the project. This piece will be safely stored while the council, in consultation with various parties including the sculptor, determines a new location for the artwork within Swansea. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year, is being funded by Swansea Council with support from the Welsh Government. The Mumbles Coastal Defence Project It is due for completion this summer (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) This ambitious, multi-million pound project aims to replace the existing worn down seawall which was atleast over a hundred years old and had been showing cracks from years of wear and tear. This expansive civil engineering project is being undertaken with the objective of protecting businesses, organisations, attractions, events, and several homes against rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Welsh Government's claim is that the new seawall will protect the Mumbles coast for the next 100 years. The £26.5m project is primarily funded by the Welsh Government, managed by Swansea Council, and is being delivered by Knights Brown as the main contractor. However, Swansea Council is footing the bill for nearly 15% of the project, with the Welsh government also providing the local authority with the development costs associated with this scheme, amounting to £1.9m. It began in early 2023 and nearly 110 workers from Knights Brown have been working tirelessly on the project since. It is expected to be completed by summer this year. Digital infrastructure project In an effort to alleviate network congestion, small cell sites have been deployed to enhance network capacity as required, with the objective that people will be able to use their mobiles for calls, messaging or internet access during peak times in the city centre, such as during the Christmas parade and the Wales Airshow. This initiative, a collaboration between Swansea Council, Freshwave, and Virgin Media O2, is part of a larger regional digital infrastructure project costing £55m, which is partly being funded by the Swansea Bay City deal. Council says that the project has been spearheaded by the its digital champions, who have worked in close coordination with Freshwave, Virgin Media O2, and other council departments to minimise disruption for businesses and visitors to the city centre during the implementation phase. Article continues below Other Developments Student accommodation projects, such as the £22m Coppergate scheme on The Kingsway and the £65m Seren scheme on Mariner Street. A new market garden is in the works, courtesy of a £500,000 council investment in the market that will also enhance its entrances. An £11.4m placemaking grants investment is set to create new homes and boost commercial premises in the city centre. This funding comprises private contributions and £7m from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns scheme.
Wales Online
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Michael Sheen gives update on new national theatre and says 'it feels fitting'
Michael Sheen gives update on new national theatre and says 'it feels fitting' The Hollywood actor described it as a 'full circle moment' Elliott King, Swansea Council cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, council leader Rob Stewart, Michael Sheen, artistic director for Welsh National Theatre and Sharon Gilburd, the theatre's chief executive officer outside Swansea Civic Centre (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has announced Swansea will be the new home of Welsh National Theatre. The Port Talbot actor has announced his company's first headquarters will be in the city's civic centre, overlooking the beach of Swansea Bay. It comes after it was announced that Welsh National Theatre's first production, Our Town, will debut at Swansea Grand Theatre next year from January 16 to 31. The play, which later tours Wales before closing at co-production partner the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames, is directed by Swansea-born Francesca Goodridge with Swansea native Russell T Davies as creative associate. Mr Sheen, who is artistic director of Welsh National Theatre, said there was a special reason why Swansea had been selected. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here . He said: "My theatrical journey began on the stage in Swansea as a member of the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre, so it feels fitting to come full circle to base Welsh National Theatre in the city. "Swansea is a place of creativity, resilience and inspiration and I'm excited by the possibilities this presents not just for artists, but for the people of Wales. "This isn't about just an office space, but a cultural hub which welcomes creatives in, and we're working on plans to make the space come alive with actors, directors, producers and writers before the work meets audiences. In just seven months, a Swansea audience will be the first anywhere in the world to see a Welsh National Theatre production live; the countdown is truly on." Article continues below Sharon Gilburd, founding chief executive of Welsh National Theatre, added: "We see Swansea as an integral part of our future. There's genuine heartfelt passion and commitment from the Swansea Council team to work with us so we can all help to create a thriving and innovative cultural scene — both for today and for generations to come." After taking to the stage in Swansea in Our Town, Sheen will play Owain Glyndŵr in Gary Owen's epic new play, Owain & Henry, in a Welsh National Theatre and Wales Millennium Centre co-production in November 2026. The decision by Welsh National Theatre to set up in the city has been welcomed by council leader Rob Stewart. He said: "This is a proud moment for Swansea. Having Welsh National Theatre based here shows how far we've come as a creative city. The creation of Welsh National Theatre marks a bold step in raising the profile of Welsh storytelling on a global stage — and by choosing Swansea as its home, it strengthens the city's role as a hub for national and international creative talent. "This brings real opportunities for those working across the performance sector — from actors to musicians, artists and writers to designers, producers and technicians — to be part of something world-class, creating new intellectual property, rooted in Swansea and rooted in Wales. "Wales deserves an English language national theatre company — and we're thrilled that, through the vision of its artistic director Michael Sheen, Welsh National Theatre has chosen Swansea as its home. The impact of hosting world-class theatre in Swansea will be transformative. It has the potential to stimulate a new generation of local talent and inspire even more visitors to come to our city." Article continues below And the council's cabinet member for culture, human rights and equalities, Elliott King added: "From the Swansea Building Society Arena to grassroots music and performance spaces, the many creative people who help make our local culture so vibrant, innovative and diverse also ensure it's the best place for audiences to enjoy. "Welsh National Theatre being based in Swansea will help attract even more attention to our creative industries and cultural sector. Working with schools, universities, digital trend-setters and businesses, our ambition for Swansea to make its mark on an international stage has never looked brighter."
