EditorFormer Swansea police station turned into 68‑room homeless accommodation
A Grade II‑listed building once home to Swansea Central Police Station has been completely renovated to provide safe, supported accommodation for people with nowhere else to go.
The site — now known as Llys Glas — includes 68 individual rooms spread across several floors, with shared kitchens, en‑suite bathrooms, communal areas and round‑the‑clock support for residents. Many of those moving in are dealing with health issues or have recently been released from prison.
The project is a partnership between Swansea Council and social housing landlord Codi, formerly known as Pobl. Codi has owned the building since 2003 and had been using it as student accommodation until recently.
The council says the new development will help reduce its heavy reliance on bed and breakfast rooms, which has surged since the pandemic and been made worse by the cost‑of‑living crisis and a shortage of affordable housing across the city.
Grant funding from the Welsh Government has enabled the conversion to go ahead.
Cllr Andrea Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said:
“I’m very impressed with the renovation and the hard work everyone has done to get us to this stage. I also want to thank Welsh Government for providing funding for this development. Without them, this would not have been possible.
“We have a growing number of residents in Swansea who are very much in need of this type of temporary accommodation, where they can get the support they need, along with the reassurance of a safe place to live.
“This will be where many of the tenants can work towards getting themselves in a better and more positive place, preparing for a move into more permanent accommodation and improving their lives.”
Andrew Vye, Executive Director – Customer and Community at Codi, said:
“We have an excellent relationship with Swansea Council, working closely in partnership on key projects right across the city, and are pleased to be able to assist their efforts to the supply of homes for homeless people.
“Housing is at the heart of everything. The security a suitable environment provides can allow those who have experienced homelessness to get back on their feet.
“Homelessness continues to be a challenge across Wales and can impact anyone. We are committed to working in partnership with local authorities to offer solutions.”
The council has opened several new schemes in recent years to ease pressure on emergency accommodation, including 24 units at Ty Tom Jones in partnership with Codi, four temporary pods at Bryn House in Uplands, and family flats in Penlan.
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