An artists impression of Swansea in a few years

Traders have backed bold plans to give Swansea a £1 billion makeover.

Developers unveiled details of their blueprint for the future of the city earlier this week, involving ambitious proposals to completely change the face of the city.

Hammerson and Urban Splash, the regeneration team behind the new Bullring complex in Birmingham, also revealed they are in talks with retail giants John Lewis and House of Fraser about bringing them to the city.



But instead of being concerned about the monumental changes, existing businesses have welcomed the proposals.

Tony Collins, of High Street Traders, welcomed the news that money is to be spent on the city, but urged support for independent traders.

"From a High Street perspective, any money being spent on the city centre we welcome," he said.

"Hopefully, disruption can be kept to a minimum - we havepositive discussions with contractors undertaking work in the city centre about keeping disruption to a minimum and I hope that would continue.

"Any money being spent has got to be good for the long-term future of the city.

"But I hope, as part of the project, they try and encourage the independent traders in some way, as in major projects they can often be left out. We do not want to lose the individuality of the city."

Under the plans, the city's waterfront would be opened up and linked to the rest of the city centre by the creation of a "European boulevard" along Oystermouth Road.

The Quadrant and St David's shopping areas would also undergo a major overhaul, with Debenhams being considered for a move from the site in which it has stood ever since the Quadrant opened in the late 1970s. Peter Birch, of Oxford Street Traders, said: "The prospect of what will happen is a revolution for the city.

"It is wonderful, wonderful news. We have something to look forward to again.

"At last investment is coming our way, rather than Cardiff.

"There is the chance we can make the waterfront part of our city centre attractive for both tourists and local shoppers.

"That brings the possibility of Swansea becoming the number one shopping destination in Wales, not number two.

"But Oystermouth Road is one of the biggest obstacles. They talk of a boulevard, but you can't be dodging in and out of cars. How will they get rid of traffic?

"But I am optimistic about it, as we all are. It is about the future of Swansea and we all want it to succeed."

Hammerson and Urban Splash have both committed themselves to remaining with the project long after construction has finished.

The promise has been welcomed by the Swansea City Partnership, which includes representatives from the public, private and voluntary sector.

Chairwoman Rosemary Morgan said: "Developers have a habit of going in and building and walking away, so their commitment is very important.

"They have said they want to work with existing traders, and not against them, and to listen to their concerns.

"It would be lovely to think it could happen tomorrow, but there are a huge amount of hurdles to overcome first.

"They are big, proven organisations, but they also have a very human side."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• news
• Swansea
• Artists
• impression
• £1
• billion

[FieryTigerWolf]

We need a sun machine!.

[supersion30]

Looks Cool.

[joesatriani1200rulez]

How about, they knock down everything, and put swansea back to how it was in the 60's and 70's, most beautiful and best looking place swansea was in the 60's and 70's. Now it just looks shit they ruined everything. I hate the swansea government and council.

[welshfluteplayer]

Actually a lot of this has been built and its still a ghost town and a shit hole Swansea council are greeedy they charge way too much to busineses and these then move to the outskirts turning the town center into a ghost town.

[2manyburgers]

@Sover99 we do need something impressive like a boulevard, it makes the seaside location of swansea more special. we didnt need b.buses ill agree, nowt wrong with double deckers, we were in desperate need for a new bus station the old one was embarrasing for swansea. we were also the laughing stock of all football and rugby teams in the vetch, granted it is a special place in swansea though. Youll love the new swansea by the middle of the next decade ;)

[Sover99]

We don't need a continental-style boulevard. We didn't need a bendy bus. We didn't need a new bus station. We didn't need the football and rugby teams moved out of town. We certainly didn't need a one way system on the kingsway.

All we want is clean streets and lock up the scum who seem to infest the city centre. That shouldn't cost £20m or cause the disruption this so-called boulevard is going to.

[Mahoney8T7]

sorry but cardiff is dull to me.....cardiff may be a little bigger and have one or two newer buildings...but where else can you cross a road right from the city and be straight on the beach.....you certainly cant do that in cardiff.

im glad swansea is gettin there bit by bit and not been ass-raped by redevelopment companies like cardiff has...just another city with a few tall white buildings

Swansea has the opportunity to blow cardiff away in about 10 years with whats coming up so watch out!

[welshleprechaun]

i have - swansea is worse

[welshleprechaun]

it's just pathetic the way swansea is trying to portray itself. the fact is that it will always be a grubby town overshadowed by the much larger and vibrant cardiff

[csjasona]

...and "Kingsway Circle" - a vast, concrete, grey traffic crossing that even the seagulls won't rest in. With traffic coming at you from four directions a once, it's hardly a step up from the 1960's subway that was there before...

[csjasona]

"European boulevard" LOL! It's a dual carriageway that's been there since 1968. Stick a few trees in the central reservation and suddenly it's a boulevard.

[AExpression]

If only... lol