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.

City centre project creates new work opportunities

The Kier Group workforce and sub-contractors attached to Swansea Council’s Y Storfa project number up to around 45 every day.

Among them – helped into work by council community benefits initiative Beyond Bricks and Mortar – are a number of workers hired by the firm in the early days of the scheme.

Once complete, the council say Y Stofa will be a key part of its £1bn regeneration of Swansea, and will be a gathering place and a source of information for people across the city.

Trainee site manager Jack Shaddick is a Kier degree apprentice studying construction management.

He said: “I’m proud to be working on such an important building in my home city

“Every day is different in my role – there’s never the same problem to solve, the same task to complete or even the same project to work on.

“There’s a wide variety of jobs in the construction industry so I’m excited to be part of it.”

Jack is a student at Sheffield Hallam University.

Architectural engineering university student Joe Eynon is on a 12-month placement with Kier, specialising in design management.

He said: “I was attracted to the construction industry because it offers the ability to make towns and cities more inviting and environmentally friendly.

“My role with Kier has allowed me to make a real-life impact on the Y Storfa project.”

Joe is a student at Plymouth University.

Andy Gough, of Swansea, is a labourer, traffic marshal and hoist operator.

His previous experience included warehouse and factory work.

He said: “After being unemployed for around seven months, this Y Storfa opportunity is having a great positive impact on my life.

“I’ve been able to broaden my skillset and I’m being treated really well by everybody here – the Kier workforce is really supportive.”

Council cabinet member Elliott King, said: “It’s great to see new work opportunities coming as a result of Beyond Bricks and Mortar linking in with our fantastic Y Storfa development.

“It illustrates our holistic approach to regeneration, allowing local communities to benefit from physical regeneration projects, particularly getting people into work.

“I thank Kier, our main contractors on Y Storfa, working with us to create a number of new posts to help them deliver Y Storfa on our behalf.”

Ian Rees, regional director at Kier, said: “We are incredibly proud of the team we have working on Y Storfa.

“The team has a great mix of experienced individuals and those learning their trade with us, as well as varied background which have all contributed to the project’s success so far.

“It’s fantastic to hear that we are having such a positive impact on the lives of people in the area and will endeavour to continue doing so.”

The council say Y Storfa, in the former BHS store at the corner of Oxford Street and Princess Way, is on course for completion this year.

Council-run services based there will include the contact centre, Housing Options, lifelong learning and the main public library and new children’s library, as well as the West Glamorgan Archive Service and other useful resources.

Non-council tenants at Y Storfa are set to include the Swansea office of Careers Wales, the main base of Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library.

The council say it will encourage footfall for local businesses as the council continues its £1bn regeneration programme.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “Y Storfa will be a fantastic location for people from across the city to access key services, to meet and the spend quality free time.

“It’ll be at the heart of our regeneration drive, standing next to Castle Square which is due to receive a greener new look.

“It’s great to see progress being made on our repurposing of this very large city centre site for public services.

“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 more welcoming, there are plans for new homes above McDonald’s, and new homes and businesses at the former Castle Cinema.”

(Lead image: Members of the Kier Group workforce at the Swansea city centre Y Storfa project include, from left, Jack Shaddick, Joe Eynon and Andy Goug) (Image: Swansea Council)

#BeyondBricksAndMortar #KierConstruction #Swansea #YStorfa

Inside Y Storfa: Photos show progress at community hub

In a progress update on works, Swansea Council say their contractors, Kier, are beginning to put up internal walls on some of the three floors.

The council added that the past few months have seen progress on matters such as demolition of walls, creating a new roof light and installing mechanical and electrical kit.

The city centre project, in the former BHS store at the corner of Oxford Street and Princess Way, is on course for completion this year.

It will see a range of publicly accessible services – including the city’s main public library – at the heart of the city centre, encouraging footfall for local businesses as the council says it continues its £1bn regeneration programme.

Council leader Rob Stewart said: “It’s great to see progress being made at Y Storfa.

“When open it’ll be a fantastic location for people from across the city to access key services, to meet and the spend quality free time.

“It’ll be at the heart of our regeneration drive which includes Swansea Arena, the Copr Bay bridge, Amy Dillwyn Park, the new-look Kingsway and Wind Street, transformed heritage structures such as the Palace Theatre building and Albert Hall, and new structures such as 71-72 Kingsway and the Biophilic Living Building rising now above Oxford Street.”

Jason Taylor, regional director at Kier Construction Western & Wales, said: “Y Storfa is progressing well and the building redevelopment is on track to be completed this year.

“This project right in the centre of Swansea will provide a real hub for residents, providing a range of amenities and services which will bring people into the heart of the city. We look forward to handing it over to Swansea Council.”

Y Storfa will be a key regeneration project for Swansea city centre, standing between Castle Square – which is due to receive a greener new look – and the new-look, people-friendly Kingsway.

Close to car parks, bus stops and cycle routes, the council say that Y Storfa will offer people convenient access to key services from across the council and other organisations.

It adds that the development will reinvigorate an existing building, bring together key support services into a single accessible location and boost footfall for city centre businesses.

Council-run services based there will include the contact centre, Housing Options, lifelong learning and the main public library as well as the West Glamorgan Archive Service and other useful resources.

Non-council tenants at Y Storfa are set to include the Swansea office of Careers Wales, the main base of Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library.

Some council services to move there will relocate from the Civic Centre that’s in line to be redeveloped as a new city seafront district in a partnership between the council and world-renowned developers Urban Splash.

New homes and leisure and hospitality uses could feature there, along with greenery, public spaces and a new walkway to the beach.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

#BHS #construction #featured #Kier #KierConstruction #Library #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #WestGlamorganArchiveService #YStorfa