Thousands flock to new city centre hub as Y Storfa officially opens

The former BHS department store on Oxford Street has been transformed into a buzzing community hub, bringing the city’s Central Library, housing services, archives and advice centres together under one roof.

Crowds pour in since doors opened

Y Storfa has been open since December 1 and has already welcomed thousands through its doors. Social media has been flooded with praise from locals.

Visitor Pat Baldrian said:

“I really like it. I’ll be a regular visitor – it’s so convenient whilst in town.”

Ronny Oner added:

“It was super busy when we popped in to have a gander.”

Ministers cut the ribbon

The hub was formally opened today (December 17) by Julie James MS, Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, alongside Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart and cabinet member Elliott King.

Council leader Rob Stewart said:

“It’s fantastic that Y Storfa has enjoyed successful public and formal openings – and that so many people have already visited and given us great feedback. It’ll deliver essential services to people from across Swansea and will help drive new business to nearby traders. It’ll be even better when we complete our ongoing transformation of the neighbouring Castle Square which will soon be greener and more welcoming than ever.”

Services under one roof

Inside Y Storfa, visitors will find the city’s Central Library, a children’s library with sensory play, the West Glamorgan Archive Service, Housing Options and Housing Support, plus bases for Careers Wales and Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot. Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library has also moved in.

To mark the opening, an exhibition in the community event space highlights the building’s history and the changing face of the city centre.

Praise from partners

Jayne Bryant, Welsh Government cabinet secretary for housing and local government, said:

“With the opening of Y Storfa, we’re bringing essential services together under one roof – making support more accessible while creating a vibrant hub that strengthens Swansea’s community and boosts local businesses. I’m proud that our Welsh Government Transforming Town programme helped to fund this project, and I’m delighted that so many residents of all ages are already using this fantastic space.”

Caroline Newman, chief officer of Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot, said:

“Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot are already settling in to Y Storfa. Access for clients is much easier and the surroundings warm, bright and welcoming. Having the right environment is far more conducive to helping some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Sian Williams, head of Cultural Collections at Swansea University, said:

“We are delighted that Y Storfa will be the new home of the South Wales Miners’ Library. Our new location will mean these remarkable collections — rich in stories of Wales and Swansea’s industrial and cultural heritage — are even more accessible. We look forward to collaborating with Swansea Council colleagues and the other Y Storfa tenants to engage new audiences, inspiring and informing future generations.”

A new heartbeat for the city

With hundreds of nearby parking spaces and easy access to public transport, Y Storfa is set to become a central hub for Swansea life.

Ian Rees, regional director for Kier Construction Western & Wales, said:

“It has been fantastic to see Y Storfa buzzing with life since it opened. Delivering this vibrant space in the heart of Swansea city centre embodies our commitment to creating sustainable, community‑focused facilities that will benefit future generations for decades to come.”

The council says the hub will grow even further once the neighbouring Castle Square is transformed into a greener, more welcoming public space.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea city centre library opens at Y Storfa
The new Central Library opens its doors inside Y Storfa, offering books, digital access and sensory spaces.

New Swansea city centre hub Y Storfa opens its doors
Thousands visit Y Storfa in its first week as council services, archives and advice centres move in.

Castle Square transformation work set to start in January
Major works begin next month to create a greener, more welcoming public space next to Y Storfa.

Fly-through video reveals first look at Swansea’s new Y Storfa community hub

A major regeneration project is taking shape in the heart of Swansea city centre, with the former BHS store on Oxford Street being transformed into Y Storfa, a modern community services hub.

The scheme, led by Swansea Council with Kier Group as main contractor, will bring together a wide range of facilities under one roof. Alongside a new central library, Y Storfa will also host the council’s contact centre, Housing Options, revenues and benefits, lifelong learning, and the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

Non-council tenants will include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library, making the building a one‑stop destination for learning, advice and community support.

First look inside

The newly released CGI fly-through highlights the building’s striking exterior and welcoming internal spaces. Viewers are given a first glimpse of the main reception, children’s library, open‑plan library, contact centre, meeting rooms, and a modern conference and events space.

The design also includes accessible lifts to every floor, ensuring the hub is fully inclusive.

Earlier this year, Swansea Bay News published exclusive photos showing the progress of the build (Inside Y Storfa), while a previous update charted how the scheme was taking shape on site (Y Storfa community hub takes shape).

Library move from Civic Centre

To prepare for the relocation, Swansea’s central library at the Civic Centre will close from Monday 20 October. Staff will use the closure period to transfer collections and set up the new facility.

As reported by Swansea Bay News last month (Central Library preparing for move), the move marks the end of an era for the Civic Centre site, which is earmarked for future redevelopment.

“A place where people can come together”

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said the project is part of the city’s wider £1bn regeneration programme.

“Swansea city centre needs more footfall to support its existing traders and help attract new shops and other businesses in future.

“Y Storfa will be a place where people can come together – to learn, access important services, or take part in community life in a modern and welcoming space. By bringing services like the library, archives, Housing Options and others together under one roof, it’ll make life easier for many residents and create opportunities for people of all ages.”

Linked to wider regeneration

The development is located close to car parks, bus stops and cycle routes, making it easily accessible. An official opening date will be announced soon.

Cllr Stewart added that the move will also pave the way for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site on the waterfront, with regeneration partners Urban Splash currently working on proposals.

Funding for Y Storfa includes support from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

Related articles

• Swansea Central Library preparing for move to Y Storfa hub
• Y Storfa community hub takes shape in Swansea city centre
• Inside Y Storfa: Photos show progress at community hub

#archives #BHS #callCentre #CareersWales #CentralLibrary #CentralLibraryMove #CentralLibraryRelocation #CitizensAdvice #CitizensAdviceCymru #CivicCentre #CllrRobStewart #ContactCentre #featured #HousingOptions #KierGroup #OxfordStreet #PrincessWay #regeneration #SouthWalesMinersMuseum #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TransformingTowns #WestGlamorganArchiveService #YStorfa

Y Storfa community hub takes shape in Swansea city centre

Progress continues on Swansea’s flagship community services hub Y Storfa, with key features now emerging at the former BHS building in Oxford Street.

The development is part of Swansea Council’s £1bn regeneration programme and will bring together a wide range of public and third-sector services under one roof.

Recent construction milestones include the installation of a striking three-storey steel stairway, beach hut-style meeting pods for Careers Wales, internal and external windows, and new cladding panels. The work is being carried out by main contractors Kier Group and remains on track for completion this year.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “It’s great to see progress being made on our repurposing of this very large city centre site for public services. Y Storfa will be a fantastic location for people from across the city to access essential services.”

Once open, Y Storfa will house council-run services including the central library, a new children’s library, Housing Options, lifelong learning, the West Glamorgan Archive Service, and the contact centre. Non-council tenants will include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library.

The hub is designed to be easily accessible, located close to car parks, bus stops and cycle routes. It is expected to boost footfall for nearby businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of the city centre.

Cllr Stewart added: “This area of the city centre is being transformed with a great mix of public and private sector investment. Castle Gardens is going to be greener and much more welcoming, there are plans for new homes above McDonald’s, and new homes and businesses are being created at the former Castle Cinema.”

The Y Storfa project is supported by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Local businesses invited to explore work opportunities at Castle Square transformation
Explores how upcoming developments are opening doors for traders and SMEs.

Castle Square work to start as hoardings go up around site
Details the initial steps in the regeneration of Castle Square and public reaction.

Inside Y Storfa: Photos show progress at community hub
Visual update showing recent construction milestones at the Oxford Street site.

First two non-council tenants announced for Y Storfa in Swansea city centre
Careers Wales and Citizens Advice confirmed as tenants in the new public services hub.

#BHS #CareersWales #CentralLibrary #CitizensAdviceCymru #CllrRobStewart #construction #HousingOptions #KierGroup #Library #SouthWalesMinersMuseum #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaLibraries #WestGlamorganArchiveService #YStorfa

Dishonest man handed jail sentence for fraud and ordered to pay back five figure sum to customers

Swansea Crown Court heard on July 21st, 2025 that in July 2022, Neath Port Talbot residents received flyers advertising free quotations and ‘no upfront payments’ from tarmac drive specialists Jonathan Lewis Trading.

The court was told one customer agreed to pay £3,000 to have a driveway laid with tarmac. The work was completed quickly and the trader was paid in cash.

Soon after, the customer noticed the quality of the work was poor and that the tarmac began to flake and chip and had started to spread into a public pathway. 

A second customer contacted Jonathan Lewis Trading after receiving a flyer and requested a diamond pattern in the centre of a driveway, along with other works. The complainant was quoted £8,000 if the work was carried out before January, otherwise it would have cost “£12,000 due to the cost of materials and staff”. The complainant went ahead to save £4,000.

The work was paid for via bank transfer. The court heard the work was poor, the diamond was off-centre, paviours between the pavement and hardstanding were misaligned and there were ‘distorted gaps’. Also, the work was never completed.

Neither of the complainant customers were given the required 14 days cancellation rights and despite what it said on the flyer, both were asked for payments upfront.

On further investigation the court heard, Trading Standards officers found that the real name of Jonathan Lewis of Jonathan Lewis Trading was John William Price.

Once contacted, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards officers commissioned a quantity surveyor to inspect the work. 

The surveyor found the work on one of the complainant’s driveways was poor, unfinished and unaligned and that the complainant had been overcharged adding that the work should have been costed at £600-£700 instead of £3,000. The surveyor added the other driveway was also severely overpriced at £8,000, with the materials being used only costing between £1,500 and £1,800.

The court heard both driveways later needed to be completely cleared and relaid at a cost of £2,000 and £3,000 respectively.

Also, during an investigation into two illegal deposits of waste in Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Waste Enforcement section established that the waste had been removed by Jonathan Price after delivering flyers at the properties. Price attended a formal interview conducted jointly by Trading Standards and Waste Enforcement, where he answered the questions with a no comment answer. 

At court, Mr Price pleaded guilty to offences under the Fraud Act 2006 for making false representations that the prices quoted represented fair payments for the works carried out.  He also confirmed he had removed the waste, but said an unnamed employee illegally deposited the waste. However, he entered guilty pleas to two offences under s33(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, in that he knowingly caused the waste to be deposited, whether or not he gave any instructions for this to be done.

At the Swansea Crown Court sentencing hearing, Jonathan William Price, 45, was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years for fraud offences relating to the tarmac laying incidents and three months imprisonment suspended for two years for Environmental Protection Act offences relating to the illegal deposit of waste.

The sentences are to run concurrently. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity. He was ordered to pay compensation of £3,000 and £8,000 to the two complainants.

Councillor Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards and Public Protection, said: 

“Residents must remain vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of a rogue trader. It’s pleasing to see our Trading Standards officers and Waste Enforcement team have worked together to bring about this prosecution.”

If you have a problem with a trader, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08089 223 1133.

#CitizensAdviceCymru #fraud #JonathanLewisTrading #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #TradingStandards

Illegal disposable vapes seized from Neath Port Talbot shops

Neath Port Talbot Council Trading Standards have confiscated dozens of illegal disposable vapes still being sold in local shops — despite a nationwide ban that came into force on 1 June 2025.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited two premises in the area and discovered 67 single-use vapes on sale. The businesses voluntarily surrendered the items, which will now be safely disposed of in line with environmental regulations.

The ban, introduced under the Environmental Protection (Single Use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024, is part of a wider UK effort to reduce environmental harm and protect children from underage vaping. Disposable vapes are considered non-compliant if they are not refillable or rechargeable, or if their coils and pods cannot be easily replaced.

“The ban on disposable vapes is there to protect the public and the environment and has been well publicised,” said Cllr Cen Phillips, Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing. “Disposable vapes are a significant problem, as they contain hazardous materials which are difficult to safely dispose of and because they are frequently purchased by under-18s.”

The businesses involved will receive formal warning letters, with potential penalties including fixed fines or prosecution if found selling banned products again.

Residents with concerns about illegal vape sales or underage purchases are urged to contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 (or 0808 223 1144 for Welsh speakers), or email [email protected].

More Trading Standards and public health stories

Counterfeit TikTok toys seized in Swansea shops amid collector craze
Published July 2025: Trading Standards officers confiscate fake toys linked to viral trends, warning of safety risks and misleading packaging.

Swansea Trading Standards make huge counterfeit toy seizure
Published July 2025: Thousands of fake branded toys removed from sale in city-wide crackdown on unsafe and misleading products.

Minimum alcohol pricing in Wales shows mixed impact after five years
Published July 2025: Welsh Government reviews public health policy amid concerns over affordability, drinking habits and enforcement.

Taibach vape shop shut down after selling illegal cigarettes and vapes
Published June 2025: Neath Port Talbot Trading Standards secure closure order after repeated breaches involving banned tobacco and vape products.

#CitizensAdviceCymru #CllrCenPhillips #disposableVapes #illegalVapes #NeathPortTalbot #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #TradingStandards