CWMBWRLA: Plans in for 12 flats above the CK Foodstores supermarket near Cwmbwrla Roundabout

Thirty-two new flats could be built above the CK Foodstores supermarket on Pentregethin Road in Cwmbwrla — on a street that has become one of Swansea’s most troubled corners in recent years, as repeated flooding from a nearby sinkhole brought the roundabout to a standstill time and again.

Plans filed with Swansea Council under application reference 2026/0523/PRE propose converting the currently empty upper floors of the store — a prominent building near Cwmbwrla Roundabout, opposite Swansea Ambulance Station — into a mix of one and two-bedroom self-contained apartments. The ground floor shop, Post Office and car park would all stay as they are.

The store’s upper floors have sat largely unused for years, their original purpose as warehouse space long since redundant. The plans, drawn up by Prime Architecture on behalf of CK Stores Ltd, say the building is well placed for housing given its location right in the heart of Cwmbwrla, with bus stops within 50 yards and a rail link nearby.

Each of the 32 flats would have its own front door and staircase from street level. The architects say a lift could also be included, and that every flat would meet disabled access standards. The building’s exterior would be updated with new facing brickwork, zinc cladding and aluminium windows and doors.

The area badly needs the housing. Census figures show 34% of households in the immediate area are in social housing — nearly double the national average of 17.5%.

Parking for the new residents is planned to be shared with the supermarket, using the existing car park on the opposite side of Pentregethin Road.

Behind the planning application is CK Stores Ltd, whose managing director is Christopher Kiley — one of Swansea’s most colourful business figures. Kiley founded the chain in 1988 after acquiring a small store in Llandeilo, and has since built it into a network of more than 30 supermarkets across South and West Wales, turning over around £68m a year.

But Kiley is rarely far from controversy. CK Foodstores was fined £36,000 last year for serious allergen labelling breaches at its Narberth store. Before that, an ITV Wales and S4C investigation found nearly half of the chain’s stores were selling meat and fresh produce past their use-by date — in one case by 13 days. Kiley’s company agreed to be interviewed three times, then pulled out each time. Beyond the supermarkets, he made national headlines in 2015 after flying his helicopter into Heathrow’s airspace and bringing the airport to a halt, and has clashed with Swansea Council over works at his Caswell Bay estate on the Gower, including the felling of protected trees without permission.

The Pentregethin Road store sits right at the heart of what has been a deeply troubled patch. Just a street away, the old Cwmfelin Social Club — demolished after spending two years perched on the edge of a giant sinkhole — repeatedly caused Cwmbwrla Roundabout to flood and close, submerging cars, with engineers uncovering a hidden Victorian tramway channel beneath the site. The saga is not over yet — one lane on the roundabout and the busy Carmarthen Road remain closed to accommodate pumping equipment to prevent the flooding from returning.

The Post Office relocated to the CK Foodstores site in 2021 following the closure of nearby Manselton Post Office and would continue operating from the ground floor under the proposals.

The plans also include bird and bat boxes on the building and secure cycle storage for residents.

The application is now being considered by Swansea Council. Anyone wishing to view the documents or comment can search for reference 2026/0523/PRE on the council’s planning portal at swansea.gov.uk/planningsearch.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Supermarket chain fined £36,000 for unsafe food labelling breaches
CK Foodstores convicted after allergen labelling failures found at its Narberth store.

Demolition of Cwmfelin Social Club begins after two years on edge of giant sinkhole
The end of a long saga for a building that brought Cwmbwrla to a standstill.

Cwmbwrla roundabout closed again as floodwaters rise under amber weather warning
One of many closures that plagued the area as the sinkhole saga dragged on.

TOWNHILL: Social housing developer plans 27 affordable homes on derelict nursery site
Plans for new affordable housing on a derelict site just over a mile away in Townhill.

Editors Note
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that 32 flats were being proposed. The figure is in fact 12 flats. The article has been updated to reflect this.

Colony Shops Face Auction Block

Over 1,400 shops in Telangana housing colonies will be auctioned between April 9 and April 21 to fund colony development and maintenance. Find out if your local colony is affected.

#TelanganaShops, #ColonyAuction, #HyderabadRealEstate, #TCURScheme, #AffordableHousing

https://newsletter.tf/telangana-colony-shops-auction-april-9-21/

More than 1,400 shops in Telangana's housing colonies are going to auction. This is a large number of shops being sold to fund local improvements.

#TelanganaShops, #ColonyAuction, #HyderabadRealEstate, #TCURScheme, #AffordableHousing
https://newsletter.tf/telangana-colony-shops-auction-april-9-21/

Washington state passed a first-in-the-U.S. law, SB 6026, allowing housing in commercial zones and providing flexibility on ground-floor retail mandates in new apartment buildings, aiming to alleviate the state’s severe housing shortage and reduce vacant commercial spaces.

https://www.sightline.org/2026/03/11/washington-just-passed-first-in-the-us-flexibility-for-ground-floor-retail/

#urbanism #urbanplanning #affordablehousing #zoningreform #mixeduse

Pinned: Housing is a fundamental right.

We welcome the @EU_Commission #AffordableHousing Plan & call for bolder measures, including:
🏠 the right to housing in EU primary law;
🏠 energy market reform;
🏠 stronger focus on families & young people.

#HousingCrisis
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https://nitter.net/EU_EESC/status/2040346132820472059#m

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH OFFERS SPACE TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

On Dec. 31 2025, Christ Lutheran Church proposed to add townhomes to its vacant lot at Anndale Rd. and Lexington Rd. to help move the Waterloo Region out of its current housing crisis. Christ Lutheran Church had a long-held vision for the future use of the site, which included an opportunity to explore new housing options. The proposal to add 57 rental townhomes to its three-acre lot has been put into action, with some challenge from residents.  

“Neighbours and community members have continued to engage with us directly, and the city is also receiving input through its formal channels…We are taking all of this input into account through the ongoing review process of the application with our team and the city,” Carly Forrester, Director of Development and Planning at Kindred Works, said.   

Kindred Works, a Toronto-based rental housing design firm, was engaged to evaluate what could be supported on the portion of the property identified for redevelopment. This work has informed the low-rise residential proposal currently advancing through the zoning process.  

“Some residents have raised concerns about height—the proposal is for two-three storeys, similar to the nearby homes to the north and northeast, and much shorter than the six-storey retirement residence to the south across the street. Other concerns raised include the number of homes, potential impacts on traffic, parking and greenspace,” Forrester said.   

The church has occupied the mostly vacant land since 1974. The plan involves retaining the original church building, while Kindred Works develops around it. Christ Lutheran Church transferred its property to its development partner for a total of two dollars in September 2025.   

“We have also received support for the proposal, including the addition of purpose-built rental housing with non-market and family-sized units, adding much needed housing to the community, the fact the building is designed to be zero-carbon, and the retention of the existing community building,” Forrester said.   

This project aligns with the Region of Waterloo’s Homes for All initiative, which is a part of the Waterloo Region’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.  

“The project is still in the zoning process, and the timeline will be shaped by the results of this phase and the municipal review process. We are eager to complete this project as soon as practical to deliver much needed housing to the community,” Forrester said.