SWANSEA: Global workspace giant IWG takes huge 20,000 sq ft at booming Kingsway development

International Working Group (IWG) is fitting out nearly 20,000 square feet at the site, marking another step in the city’s ongoing regeneration efforts.

This move will see new shared offices, private rooms, and meeting areas open in the heart of Swansea.

The 71/72 Kingsway building, developed by Swansea Council and partly funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, is already proving popular, with 80% of its office space now let.

Council estimates suggest that once fully occupied, the entire development could create up to 600 jobs and boost the city’s economy by £32.6 million each year.

IWG, which runs brands like Regus, is expanding its operations to meet what it calls “rising demand” for flexible working across South Wales.

Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of IWG, said Swansea was an “important business hub” for their expansion plans.

Mr Dixon stated: “We are very pleased to work in partnership with Swansea Council to add workspace to the 71/72 Kingsway building.”

He claimed that flexible working improves employee work-life balance and boosts productivity.

Mr Dixon added: “Our workplace model is proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs while providing access to thousands of locations.”

Swansea Council Leader, Cllr Rob Stewart, welcomed IWG’s arrival, calling it a “strong vote of confidence” in the city.

Cllr Stewart said: “We’re delighted that IWG is now fitting out its space at 71/72 Kingsway, building on the momentum created by other tenants who are already operating from the development.”

He added that IWG’s presence “reflects the growing demand for high-quality, flexible workspaces.”

The 71/72 Kingsway scheme has already attracted other businesses, including Tui, Amazon-owned Veeqo, Optical Express, sk:n, and Futures First.

This influx of companies is expected to increase footfall and support other businesses in the city centre, as part of wider regeneration projects.

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NCP enters administration putting key Swansea car parks at risk

National Car Parks (NCP), which operates around 340 car parks across the UK, has called in administrators from PwC after running out of cash.

The company employs more than 680 people nationwide and manages parking at key locations including city centres, hospitals, airports and transport hubs.

What it means right now

Despite the move, drivers are being told it’s business as usual — for now.

Administrators say all car parks remain open, staff are still in place, and there will be no immediate changes for customers.

But a full review of the business is now underway — and that could ultimately lead to closures or changes at some sites.

Major Swansea sites under the spotlight

In Swansea, NCP operates several of the city centre’s best-known car parks — all of which are now part of the administration process.

These include Kingsway (328 spaces), Orchard Street (512 spaces), City Gates (251 spaces), Jockey Street (36 spaces), and a small additional site at Northampton Lane. A further NCP car park also operates in Neath on Orchard Street.

Together, these sites provide hundreds of spaces used daily by shoppers, commuters and visitors, making them a key part of the city’s infrastructure.

While no specific closures have been confirmed, administrators have made clear that every site will be assessed for viability.

A company with decades of history

National Car Parks is one of the UK’s oldest parking operators, with roots dating back to the 1930s as car ownership began to rise across Britain.

Originally formed to manage growing demand for city parking, the business expanded rapidly in the post-war years, becoming a familiar name in towns and cities across the country.

Over the decades, NCP grew into a dominant force in the sector, operating hundreds of sites and becoming synonymous with multi-storey car parks in urban centres.

However, like many traditional parking operators, it has struggled to adapt to changing travel habits in recent years — particularly the decline in daily commuting.

Why NCP has entered administration

According to PwC, the company has struggled for years following the pandemic.

Changes in working habits — particularly the shift to home working — have reduced demand for city centre parking, while long-term lease agreements have left the business locked into high costs.

In a statement, PwC said the company had insufficient cash to meet its financial obligations, forcing directors to place it into administration.

Zelf Hussain, joint administrator, said:

“NCP has faced a challenging trading environment over several years, with changing consumer behaviours impacting volumes, and a high fixed cost-base leading to trading losses.”

He added:

“All sites are open, staff remain in post, and trading continues as normal.”

Jobs and closures risk

Although staff remain employed for now, the future is uncertain.

Administrators are exploring options including selling all or part of the business, while also negotiating with landlords in a bid to cut costs.

However, they have warned that some locations may not be viable, meaning closures are a real possibility.

What happens next

For now, drivers across Swansea and Neath can continue to use NCP car parks as normal.

But with every site under review, the longer-term future of some locations remains unclear.

For city centre businesses already facing challenges, any loss of parking could have a knock-on effect — making this a story that’s likely to develop in the weeks ahead.

Optical Express and sk:n sign up for major new Kingsway office scheme

Optical Express and partner brand sk:n have taken a ground‑floor unit at the new £32.6m office scheme, bringing private vision correction, cataract consultations and dermatology services into the heart of the city centre. Both say they can offer treatment within days or weeks of first contact.

Swansea Bay News first reported plans for the clinic last April.

New clinic promises rapid access to specialist care

Optical Express, the UK’s market leader in private vision correction surgery, will offer consultations for cataract surgery, presbyopia lens replacement and laser eye surgery. Partner brand sk:n will provide dermatology, aesthetic and laser treatments.

Dr Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director for Optical Express and sk:n, said:

“We are delighted to open our new clinic on the Kingsway in Swansea.

“This state‑of‑the‑art, environmentally conscious space provides the ideal setting for Optical Express and sk:n to deliver world‑class care to the local community.

“It reflects our unwavering commitment to exceptional patient experience, supported by the latest technology, modern facilities, and outstanding clinical teams.

“Vision correction surgery not only improves the sight of patients but also their quality of life. As our service delivery progresses, career opportunities will also develop for local people.”

Kingsway development now 80% let

The arrival of Optical Express and sk:n marks another milestone for the 104,000 sq ft Kingsway scheme, which is now 80% let. Staff from Tui, Amazon‑owned tech firm Veeqo, Futures First and building operator Savills are already based there, with flexible workspace provider IWG now fitting out its own space.

Once fully operational, the building will accommodate up to 600 workers and is expected to be worth £32.6m a year to Swansea’s economy.

Council says scheme is boosting footfall and business confidence

Swansea Council says the development is helping address a long‑standing shortage of high‑quality office space in the city, which had previously risked pushing businesses elsewhere.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:

“There has been a shortage of high‑quality office accommodation in Swansea which meant there was a risk to retaining businesses in the city and attracting new businesses and jobs here.

“The 71/72 Kingsway scheme is aimed at helping tackle that challenge, so I’m delighted to welcome Optical Express and sk:n as the latest tenants for the scheme.

“Given challenges like online shopping, Swansea city centre also needs more footfall and spending to support our existing businesses and encourage more shops and other businesses to open there.

“Numbers of potential customers are key to businesses when they’re considering where to invest, so the 71/72 Kingsway scheme – alongside many others which are either complete, ongoing or planned – will help create those numbers.”

Green features and new public spaces

The development includes a rooftop terrace overlooking Swansea Bay, solar panels, heat‑recovery systems and a new pedestrian link between The Kingsway and Oxford Street.

Work has now begun on a new green courtyard forming part of that link. It will be named Mowbray Yard, in honour of the late Huw Mowbray, a respected Swansea Council officer whose work helped shape the modern city centre.

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Powys man jailed after New Year’s Day bottle attack in Swansea nightclub

Swansea Crown Court heard that 27‑year‑old Craig Cole, from Ystradgynlais, struck the man several times after seeing him speak to his former partner on the stairs of the Plan B nightclub off The Kingsway.

The victim suffered four wounds to the top of his head, one of which had to be glued shut. He later told the court he was struggling to come to terms with the attack and that the thought of how much worse it could have been “stays with me”.

Cole pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and was jailed for 30 months.

Judge says defendant acted out of “insecure, sexual jealousy”

Judge Paul Thomas KC said Cole had shown “an excess of insecure, sexual jealousy” and attacked the man “simply because he had the temerity to talk to your ex‑partner”. He told Cole he needed to “grow up” and understand that women are not his property.

The court heard the victim had been out with friends on December 31 before ending up in Plan B. After a brief exchange with Cole’s former partner, Cole appeared and a confrontation followed. Several women stepped between the two men, but Cole reached over them and hit the victim repeatedly with a vodka bottle he had taken from his pocket.

When a member of security intervened, Cole pushed him away and struck the victim again as he tried to walk off.

Victim taken to hospital after “bloody” assault

The attack was reported to police and the victim was taken to hospital, where medics treated four separate head wounds. He said he remembered little of the incident other than seeing a bottle coming towards him and then receiving first aid inside the club.

A week later, Cole handed himself in at Swansea Central police station but answered “no comment” to all questions.

Previous convictions and “10 seconds of madness”

The court heard Cole has six previous convictions for nine offences, including criminal damage and common assault. One earlier incident also involved a male and an ex‑partner, during which Cole threw a brick through a window and injured the man inside.

His barrister said the nightclub incident was “10 seconds of madness” fuelled by jealousy, alcohol and a sense of being “disrespected”. He said Cole had written a letter to the court expressing remorse and that a former employer had described him as having a strong work ethic.

Police say jealousy was the motive

PC Matthew McGowan said:

Craig Cole is a young man who was clearly full of immense jealousy regarding any attention shown to his ex‑partner.

That jealousy caused him to become violent. His actions were completely unacceptable and could have caused lasting damage to the victim.

There was no other alternative outcome than for Cole to go to prison.

Cole will serve up to half his 30‑month sentence in custody before being released on licence.

Swansea couple sentenced after ‘disgraceful’ street assault

Olivia Lewis and her then-partner, Patrick McGinn, were sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after attacking their victim outside the NCP car park in The Kingsway at 4.25am on 10 February last year.

The court heard Lewis was seen pushing the man before McGinn took him to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the head. Lewis then joined in, continuously kicking the victim to the head before stamping on his groin multiple times.

The pair then simply walked away towards the Potter’s Wheel roundabout, leaving their victim on the floor. Police tracked them down using CCTV.

While on bail for the attack, McGinn launched another serious assault in May later in the year. After meeting a man in St Helen’s Road in the early hours at a drug-fueled flat in Matthew Street, Dyfatty, where McGinn delivered a series of blows to the victim’s head with an object during a disturbance.

The injured man fled, leaving a trail of blood behind him. A member of the public called the police after seeing the bleeding man on the street.

Lewis, 23, of Llanyrnewydd, Penclawdd, Gower, pleaded guilty to affray and has no previous convictions. McGinn, 35, formerly of Mount Pleasant, Gowerton, but now of Webb Place, Port Talbot, pleaded guilty to affray, possession of heroin, and unlawful wounding. He has 42 previous convictions for 90 offences.

James Hartson, defending Lewis, said her actions were “impulsive” and out of character, done in response to a grievance she believed had taken place.

He described the relationship between Lewis and McGinn as “a union centred around their sharing of drugs” and said McGinn had been a “completely malign influence” on his client.

Ieuan Rees, defending McGinn, acknowledged his client had a “bad record” but noted his last conviction for violence was in 2015, with most convictions being acquisitive in nature to sustain his drug habit. The Dyfatty assault happened shortly after McGinn’s father’s death, when he was in a bad place.

Addressing Lewis, Judge Huw Lewis said what she did should be to her eternal shame. He told her:

“You have come as close as close can be to going to prison. You can count yourself lucky.”

Lewis received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months with a one-quarter discount for her guilty plea. She must complete a rehabilitation course, a mental health treatment requirement, and 180 hours of unpaid work.

McGinn was sentenced to 13 months for affray (with a one-quarter discount) and 38 months for wounding (with a 10% discount for his plea entered on the day of trial), to run consecutively, making a total sentence of 51 months. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

Drone video shows Swansea’s ‘living building’ rising above city skyline

Woolies reborn

Commissioned by Powell Dobson architects, the aerial video shows the former Woolworths site transformed into the Biophilic Living Biome, a development led by Hacer Developments in partnership with housing group Pobl.

The footage captures the adjoining 13‑storey tower climbing above the city centre. While the structure is visibly taking shape, the green planting and rooftop gardens promised as part of the scheme are yet to be installed.

A UK first

The project has been described as the UK’s first “living building,” designed to blend homes, workplaces and nature in the heart of Swansea. Once complete, it will accommodate up to 500 people through the jobs and apartments it creates.

Earlier this week, Swansea Bay News reported on new grant funding pledged to support the commercial elements of the development, part of wider investment in Welsh town and city centres.

Greenhouse in the sky

Due for completion in the first half of 2026, the scheme will feature a four‑storey urban greenhouse, rooftop gardens, wildflower borders and green spaces. Apartments managed by Pobl will sit alongside an education facility, retail units and around 32,000 square feet of commercial floor space.

The building will also incorporate a bio‑solar roof, ambient loop heating and sustainable drainage systems, powered by solar energy and an air source heat system.

Wider regeneration

The ‘living building’ is part of a wider programme worth more than £1bn that is reshaping Swansea city centre. Other projects include the nearby office scheme at 71/72 Kingsway, developed by Swansea Council and part‑funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, which is already 80% let.

Funding

The Biophilic Living Biome is being funded by a mix of private sector investment, the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, Pobl and the Development Bank of Wales.

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Big tech boost as Amazon‑owned Veeqo opens new Swansea HQ at 71/72 Kingsway

Landmark opening in the city centre

The new HQ was officially opened on Friday 5 December, with Pension Minister and Swansea West MP Torsten Bell cutting the ribbon alongside civic leaders and Veeqo staff.

Bell described Veeqo as “a true Welsh success story” and said the company’s commitment to apprentices and interns showed how global investment could deliver for local communities.

The building, developed by Swansea Council and part‑funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, is designed to attract tech, digital and creative companies. Veeqo is now one of its anchor tenants.

From start‑up to global player

Founded in Swansea in 2013 by Matt Warren, Veeqo provides free shipping and inventory management software used by more than 100,000 businesses worldwide.

Since being acquired by Amazon in 2021, the company has trebled its workforce to more than 200, with half now based at the new Kingsway site.

Warren told Swansea Bay News the expanded office “enables us to continue building services which make it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to sell around the world,” adding that he was proud to see highly skilled tech jobs created in Wales.

Amazon’s investment

Amazon has already invested £60 million in Swansea since 2022 and says it will commit a further £100 million through to 2032, taking total investment past £150 million.

John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon, said the new HQ represented “our long‑term commitment to Wales” and pointed to Veeqo’s growth from 60 to over 200 staff as evidence of Welsh talent and ambition.

Civic and government reaction

Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy Rebecca Evans MS said the expansion “creates high‑quality jobs and opportunities for our young people, whilst supporting businesses across Wales and beyond.”

Swansea Council Leader Cllr Rob Stewart called the HQ “tremendous news for Swansea,” describing Veeqo as “a business born here, grown here, and now thriving internationally under Amazon.” He said the Kingsway development could eventually house up to 600 workers, boosting footfall and supporting city centre traders.

Wider impact

The Kingsway scheme is part of a wider push to attract tech and creative industries to Swansea. Beyond jobs and investment, Veeqo and Amazon also support local initiatives including coding workshops, women’s tech meetups, and the Cwtch Mawr Multibank in Swansea, which has provided more than 800,000 products to families in need.

https://youtu.be/VkfCyQgb6HA

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Bella Ciao to relocate Swansea restaurant to former Madeira site on The Kingsway

The family-run business, which opened its second restaurant on Castle Street nearly two years ago, will move into the former Madeira Restaurante premises at 46 The Kingsway. The new venue is set to open on Monday 2 December, offering a larger space for diners.

Move follows closure of long-standing Portuguese restaurant

The relocation follows the closure of Madeira Restaurante earlier this year, a venue that had served Portuguese cuisine on The Kingsway for more than two decades. Bella Ciao will now take over the site, bringing its Italian menu to the heart of the city centre.

The restaurant confirmed the move in a social media post, saying:

“Some of you may already be aware that we are relocating our Castle Street restaurant… I can now confirm we will be opening in the former Madeira Restaurante Swansea on the 2nd of December.”

Customers with existing bookings will be contacted directly, and the team says the Port Talbot branch remains open as usual.

Family-run restaurant with a passion for Italian cuisine

Bella Ciao is run by Giovan, Tyrone, Domina and Jessica, alongside a team of chefs and waiters. The restaurant describes its approach as a “culinary adventure through the flavours and traditions of Italy,” offering a menu of pasta, pizza, meat and seafood dishes.

More information is available on their website: bellaciaorestaurants.co.uk

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New city centre courtyard to honour late council officer Huw Mowbray

Tribute in the heart of the city

According to the council, construction of Mowbray Yard will start this month after the appointment of Horan Construction Ltd as the main contractor. The courtyard, which the council says will feature trees, planting and new street furniture, is intended to provide a calm and welcoming space between The Kingsway and Oxford Street.

Council Leader Rob Stewart said:

“We’re delighted to confirm the appointment of a contractor to deliver Mowbray Yard – a beautiful new courtyard that will stand as a lasting tribute to Huw. His dedication, energy and vision helped shape many of Swansea’s most significant regeneration projects in recent years, so it’s only fitting that this space bears his name.”

A career that transformed Swansea

The council notes that Mr Mowbray, who died in 2023 aged 59, was a father of two and a long‑serving officer. Officials say he played a central role in delivering landmark schemes including the Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea Arena and the revamp of Wind Street.

Part of wider regeneration

Swansea Council says Mowbray Yard is due for completion in spring 2026. The courtyard will sit behind the new 71/72 Kingsway office development, which the authority describes as a key part of the city centre regeneration programme and part‑funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal.

The council says 80% of the office space at 71/72 Kingsway is now let, with hundreds of staff from companies including TUI and Futures First already moved in. Officials add that further tenants will be announced in the coming weeks.

#7172Kingsway #construction #courtyard #horanConstruction #huwMowbray #kingsway #kingswayRegeneration #mowbrayYard #oxfordStreet #regeneration #swansea #swanseaCityCentre #swanseaCityCentreRegeneration #swanseaCouncil

New route announced for Swansea Christmas Parade

The parade begins at 5pm at the Guildhall, where Santa will illuminate the building with a red glow before a fireworks display signals the start of the evening.

Parade route through the city

From the Guildhall, the parade will travel down St Helen’s Road, along the Kingsway, College Street, Castle Street and Caer Street, before finishing on Princess Way.

More than 40 community groups, colourful floats and beloved characters from fairytales and comic books – including Cinderella and Rapunzel – will join the procession. Santa and Mrs Claus will wave from their magical sleigh as the parade makes its way through the city.

Entertainment and lights switch‑on

Live entertainment will take place on two stages: one at the Guildhall and the traditional stage outside the Dragon Hotel, where a new Christmas tree will stand. Santa will ceremoniously switch on Swansea’s Christmas lights before another fireworks display lights up the night sky.

Professional entertainers, fairytale characters and superheroes will be on hand to keep children and adults entertained throughout the evening.

Council leader welcomes new route

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said:

“The Swansea Christmas Parade is one of the city’s most cherished events – a chance for our communities to come together and celebrate the start of the festive season.

This year’s new route brings exciting opportunities to experience the magic from fresh perspectives and it promises to be a truly unforgettable evening.”

He added that the parade is the perfect opportunity to start Christmas celebrations, alongside visits to Waterfront Winterland with its ice rink and alpine bar, and the Victorian Christmas Market offering artisan gifts and festive treats.

Cllr Stewart said the parade rounds off another strong year of council‑delivered events, including the Wales Airshow, IRONMAN, Swansea Arts Weekend and Croeso.

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