7,000 homes promised, just 300 built: Swansea’s housing blueprint falters

What this feature covers

• The 7,000 homes promised in Swansea’s Local Development Plan – and why fewer than 300 have been built
• A site‑by‑site look at the Strategic Development Areas: from Penllergaer to St Thomas
• The obstacles – from Covid and costs to nutrient neutrality rules
• The impact on families, communities and local services
• How the next Local Development Plan (LDP2) could reshape Swansea’s growth to 2038

When Swansea councillors adopted the Local Development Plan (LDP) in 2019, it was meant to be a clear guide for growth. Instead of scattered estates, the council wanted builders to focus on a dozen large “Strategic Development Areas” (SDAs) — planned new neighbourhoods with schools, shops, roads and green space. The promise was bold: more than 7,000 homes within five years. Six years later, the council’s own Annual Monitoring Report shows fewer than 300 have been built.

At the latest planning committee, Cllr Peter Black voiced frustration:

“It does seem as if the plan is aiming to be a planned economy without actually any control over the economy. We’re saying how many houses we want built without having any control over that.”

Responding, Tom Evans, the council’s Placemaking and Strategic Planning Manager, acknowledged the difficulties, stressing that Swansea is not alone:

“Deliverability of residential sites has been one of the biggest difficulties we’ve experienced — and it’s not limited to Swansea, it’s a national issue.”

The Strategic Development Sites

Parc Mawr, Penllergaer (planned: 644 homes | delivered: 119)

Bellway Homes is building here, and aerial photos show rows of new houses already occupied. But Parc Mawr has been one of the most controversial sites. A vocal campaign group, Preserve Penllergaer, fought the allocation from the start, warning that the promised primary school and relief road might never materialise. Penllergaer Community Council has echoed those concerns, arguing the development risks overwhelming local services. The late Cllr Wendy Fitzgerald was a prominent critic, warning in 2020 that the scheme would “change the character of the village forever.”

Garden Village, Gorseinon (planned: 700 homes | delivered: 24)

Garden Village has history: it was first conceived as a model community in the early 20th century, but World War I halted progress. A century later, Persimmon was tasked with reviving the idea. Yet only 24 homes have been built so far. The site has been dogged by concerns over ancient woodland, which led to a public inquiry, and by scepticism that the “garden village” branding masks a conventional estate. For now, the grand vision remains largely on paper.

Pontarddulais (planned in the LDP: 486 homes | delivered: 0)

On paper, Pontarddulais was supposed to take around 486 homes under the Local Development Plan. In reality, the schemes now on the table go well beyond that figure — and the town has become one of the fiercest battlegrounds in Swansea’s housing debate.

Persimmon’s zero‑carbon neighbourhood

The biggest proposal is from Persimmon Homes, which has branded its 280‑acre scheme south of Glanffrwd Road as a “zero‑carbon ready” neighbourhood. The plans, lodged in 2024, set out 516 homes powered by air‑source heat pumps and solar panels, with no gas connections at all. Persimmon promise a new primary school, a community hall, parks, play areas and sports pitches, alongside contributions for a 3G pitch at Pontarddulais Comprehensive and upgrades to local bus services.

Supporters say it would bring jobs and give young families a chance to stay in the town. But opponents point to the same pinch‑points that have dogged every major application here: traffic through St Teilo Street, the Station Road/Water Street junction, and the pressure on schools and GPs. Councillors resolved to approve the scheme in March 2025 “despite traffic and infrastructure concerns,” but as of this autumn, the fields remain untouched.

Walters’ aluminium site and the spine road row

A second scheme is also moving forward on the former aluminium factory site off Station Road, promoted by Walters Land Ltd. Outline consent has been granted for up to 150 homes, part of a wider tract of land that could eventually deliver as many as 720. The plan has been mired in rows over the so‑called “spine street” — a relief road meant to take traffic away from Water Street. The original LDP envisaged a western route parallel to the railway, but flood risk has forced Walters to propose a new alignment via High Street and Woodville Street. Residents fear it will funnel HGVs and commuter traffic through residential streets.

Even councillors have voiced unease. Cllr Phil Downing warned at committee: “It’s either going to be a functional road, or it’s not – in which case what are we doing?” Despite those misgivings, the outline plans were approved, with just 10% affordable housing promised because of abnormal remediation costs. Walters intend to clean up the site and then sell it on to a housebuilder for detailed consent.

For now, Pontarddulais remains in limbo: two major schemes approved in principle, more homes than the LDP ever envisaged, but not a single brick laid. To campaigners, it’s proof the town is being asked to take too much. To developers, it’s a chance to deliver “sustainable, future‑proof” neighbourhoods. To residents, it’s years of uncertainty with no clear end in sight.

Both major schemes also fall within the nutrient neutrality catchment, meaning even with outline approvals, progress could be delayed until developers can prove their plans will not add to pollution in the Burry Inlet.

Morriston, Clasemont Road (planned: 490–600 homes | delivered: 0)

The land north of Clasemont Road, known as Pantlasau Farm, was one of the flagship allocations in the Local Development Plan. A detailed “Design Code” was drawn up in 2017 by consultants Mitchell Eley Gould on behalf of the Morris Estate Trustees, setting out a vision for up to 600 homes.

The plans imagined a high‑density, walkable neighbourhood inspired by the original 18th‑century Morriston grid. Key features included:

• A new primary school and playing fields.
• A local centre with shops, community space and a small commercial hub.
• A network of green corridors and a nature reserve to buffer the site from the M4.
• A mix of houses and flats, with higher densities around the centre and lower densities at the edges.
• Play areas and sports facilities (one multi‑use games area, three larger play areas and nine smaller ones).
• A street layout designed as “shared spaces” to slow traffic and prioritise walking and cycling.

The 26‑hectare site was to be built in phases over a decade, starting with around 100 homes and a small commercial space, before expanding to include the school and community hub.

A masterplan on paper

Yet despite the detailed framework, no homes have been built. The allocation remains on paper, a reminder that even with masterplans and design codes, delivery depends on developer appetite, infrastructure funding and market conditions.

Llangyfelach, M4 Junction 46 (planned: 565 homes in the LDP | live proposals: up to 1,950 | delivered: 0)

From 565 to 1,950 homes

At the northern edge of Swansea, just off Junction 46 of the M4, lies one of the most ambitious housing sites in the Local Development Plan. Known as Pentref Rhostir, the 280‑acre tract of farmland was originally allocated for 565 homes. Since then, developer Llanmoor Homes has secured outline consent for a far larger scheme: a new community of up to 1,950 homes to be built over 15–20 years, with around 15% affordable.

The masterplan promises more than just housing. It includes:

• A new primary school.
• A local centre with shops, food outlets, medical and community facilities.
• A 1.4km link road designed to ease congestion on Llangyfelach Road.
• Around 100 acres of public open space, with sports pitches, play areas and landscaped green corridors.
• Contributions to active travel routes, ecology improvements, and an on‑site demand‑responsive bus service.

Outline consent, no spades in the ground

The first phase was expected to deliver 472 homes, with Llanmoor previously aiming to start infrastructure works in spring 2025 and open a sales centre by autumn. But as of autumn 2025, the fields remain untouched. Despite outline consent and glossy brochures, not a single home has yet been built.

For supporters, Pentref Rhostir is a chance to deliver the scale of housing Swansea desperately needs, in a location with space to grow. For critics, it is a symbol of the gap between the city’s housing promises and the reality on the ground — a flagship allocation still waiting to break ground.

Despite outline consent, the site lies within the affected catchment, so condition discharge and detailed applications may now face additional scrutiny under the new nutrient rules.

Penderi Regeneration

Penderi — the collective name for the communities of Blaenymaes, Portmead, Penplas and Cadle — is not a strategic LDP housing allocation but a neighbourhood regeneration programme. The area is dominated by social housing, with thousands of homes owned by Pobl and Swansea Council, and has long faced challenges of poor connectivity, deprivation and ageing housing stock.

Since the LDP was adopted, the most significant investment here has been in retrofitting existing homes rather than large‑scale new construction. The flagship Penderi Energy Project, led by Pobl in partnership with Sero, is one of the UK’s largest residential retrofit schemes. It is upgrading 644 social homes with solar panels, battery storage and other energy‑efficient technologies, aiming to cut bills and carbon emissions.

There has also been some new council housing: Swansea Council has completed 36 homes off Colliers Way in Blaenymaes — 18 built to ultra‑efficient Passive House standards and 18 to the council’s own “Swansea Standard,” which performs 25% better than building regulations.

The 2022 regeneration prospectus, prepared with The Urbanists, sets out a 15‑year vision for a 92‑hectare area. It proposes:

• Transforming The Ravine and other green corridors, with 27ha of landscape improvements overall.
• Upgrading 14ha of sports fields at Penlan Fields.
• Testing layouts for 384 new dwellings, potentially adding around 921 residents.
• Raising tree canopy cover from 7.5% to 50% within 15 years, through new street trees, fruit trees in gardens and extensive planting.

The ambition is to turn Penderi from a low‑density, service‑poor estate into a greener, healthier, better‑connected neighbourhood. Progress so far has been modest — a retrofit programme and a handful of new council homes — but the groundwork has been laid for a much larger transformation if the masterplan is realised.

Cefn Coed Hospital, Tycoch (planned: 371 homes | delivered: 73 pre‑LDP, 0 since)

The sprawling Cefn Coed Hospital site was originally earmarked for around 350–370 homes once services moved out. An early phase on the edge of the site, built by Bellway Homes off Lon Masarn, delivered 73 houses before the Local Development Plan was adopted.

But the wider redevelopment has stalled — and the scale of housing is now set to shrink. In 2023 Swansea Bay University Health Board confirmed that part of the land will be retained for a new adult acute mental health unit, with space for parking and possible future expansion. That means the number of homes likely to be built has fallen to around 170, almost half the original figure.

The health board has also acquired and plans to demolish an old Welsh Ambulance Service building on the site to make way for the new unit, subject to planning approval. Officials said the change reflects the need to modernise NHS facilities while managing a £100m+ maintenance backlog across the estate.

At the same time, the board has identified surplus land, including parts of Cefn Coed, as potential “candidate sites” for housing in Swansea Council’s next Local Development Plan (LDP2). That means some areas could still be released for development, but the final balance between health facilities and housing will only be confirmed in the new plan.

Waunarlwydd / Fforestfach (planned in the LDP: 716 homes | delivered: 0)

This corner of Swansea was earmarked in the Local Development Plan for major growth, with around 716 homes expected. In practice, the proposals now emerging are even bigger.

Persimmon’s ribbon of development

Persimmon’s outline for a 600‑home estate has already stirred fears of a “continuous ribbon” of development stretching from Penllergaer to Gowerton. Campaigners warn it would erode the green gaps between communities and overload the A484 corridor.

Barratt’s Keepers Lodge vision

And in late 2024, Barratt Homes began consulting on a second scheme at Keepers Lodge Farm, off Titanium Road. Their boards, shown at a pre‑application consultation in November 2024, set out a vision for around 400 homes, a new primary school, and a “community heart” with shops, commercial space and community facilities.

The boards also noted that the wider site is allocated in the LDP for mixed‑use development of approximately 1,319 homes — far more than the 716 figure usually quoted. Barratt’s “Keepers Lodge” would be the first phase of that larger allocation.

For now, though, the fields remain untouched. No formal planning application has yet been lodged, and residents are bracing for another round of arguments over traffic, schools and the loss of green space.

Gowerton, Fairwood Terrace (planned in the LDP: 664 homes | delivered: 0)

A strategic site with zero delivery

This site has become a symbol of the contradictions at the heart of Swansea’s Local Development Plan. On paper, the land at the end of Fairwood Terrace was earmarked for hundreds of homes. But when the first major application came forward — a joint bid by Persimmon Homes West Wales and Urban Style Land Ltd — councillors turned it down, despite their own officers recommending approval.

The outline application, lodged in 2024, sought permission for up to 216 homes alongside some mixed‑use commercial space. The plans promised a blend of flats and houses from one to four bedrooms, with just over 10% affordable housing, plus new pedestrian crossings, an upgraded signal‑controlled junction at Fairwood Terrace and Victoria Road, and even a potential park‑and‑ride hub to serve Gowerton railway station.

Residents were unconvinced. A Facebook campaign group, “Save Gowerton From Gridlock,” mobilised hundreds of objections, warning that the extra traffic would overwhelm the already congested Fairwood Terrace/Victoria Road junction, where a low railway bridge and rugby club access already create bottlenecks. Others raised concerns about the loss of mature trees and green space, and about pressure on local schools and GP surgeries.

In September 2024, the planning committee narrowly voted to refuse the scheme, citing congestion and amenity impacts. Officers warned the refusal reasons were weak and would be hard to defend at appeal, but councillors stood firm.

The twist came in 2025, when the case went to appeal before Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW). Gowerton ward councillors Susan Jones and Dai Jenkins, who had opposed the scheme, initially agreed to defend the refusal. But they later stepped back, saying they wanted to represent their constituents’ views more freely outside the formal constraints of the planning process. Into the breach stepped Cllr Peter Black, who has taken on the role of defending the council’s decision at the hearing, supported by planning officers.

The developers, meanwhile, are pressing hard. Persimmon and Urban Style Land argue the scheme fits the Local Development Plan and meets pressing housing needs. They have even lodged a claim for costs, insisting there is an “overwhelming case” for approval. Nearly 600 local submissions have been made to PEDW, underlining the depth of feeling in the community.

For campaigners, the refusal was a victory for common sense. For developers, it is a test case of whether Swansea can deliver the homes its own plan says are needed. For the council, it has become an awkward standoff: a strategic allocation with zero delivery, a developer determined to push ahead, and a community that feels it has already reached breaking point.

The Fairwood Terrace appeal has already been postponed while Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) seeks further evidence on nutrient impacts — underlining how the new rules are already slowing decisions.

⚖️ Gowerton at Appeal

The Fairwood Terrace site (216 homes, part of the Gowerton allocation) was refused by Swansea’s planning committee in 2024 on traffic grounds, despite officers recommending approval.

Planning officers warned the refusal reasons were “not particularly strong” and may be hard to defend at appeal.

After ward members stepped back, Cllr Peter Black was nominated to defend the decision at a Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) hearing.

Developers Persimmon Homes and Urban Style Land argue the scheme complies with the LDP and would provide “much‑needed housing.”

Nearly 600 local submissions have been made to PEDW, alongside petitions and objections citing congestion and safety concerns.

The appeal has since been postponed while inspectors seek further evidence on nutrient impacts, showing how the new nutrient neutrality rules are already affecting live cases.

Central Area / Waterfront (planned: 856 homes | delivered: 128 so far, with more underway)

The Central Area / Waterfront SDA covers Swansea city centre and the SA1 Waterfront. It was earmarked in the Local Development Plan for 856 homes, alongside new commercial and leisure space. Since adoption in 2019, only 128 homes have been completed, but several major schemes are now underway that could lift delivery closer to target.

City centre regeneration

City centre regeneration has been the most visible. The Copr Bay Arena and bridge opened in 2022 as Phase One of the Swansea Central project. Phase Two is now progressing, with the former St David’s Shopping Centre site earmarked for a new office and learning campus. The council’s flagship 71/72 The Kingsway office scheme is complete, providing space for around 600 jobs in the tech and digital sectors. Alongside this, upper floors of vacant commercial buildings on The Kingsway and High Street are being converted into apartments to bring more residents into the core.

The Civic Centre prize

The Civic Centre site on the seafront is the next big prize. Urban Splash unveiled a “sketchbook vision” in December 2024 to transform the 23‑acre site with 500–600 homes, ground‑floor cafes and bars, a hotel, and even a two‑storey aquarium. The scheme will only move forward once council services relocate to Y Storfa, a new public sector hub in the former BHS store on Oxford Street. Y Storfa is due to open in late 2025, housing the central library, West Glamorgan Archive Service, and a range of council and partner services.

SA1 Waterfront schemes

SA1 Waterfront remains a key housing location. Pobl’s Sidings development added new apartments soon after the LDP was adopted, and further schemes are now in train. Construction began in early 2025 on 43 affordable homes on Langdon Road, due for completion in 2027. In late 2024, Beacon Cymru (formerly Coastal Housing) started work on 104 social rent apartments with ground‑floor commercial space on Kings Road. In May 2025, the Welsh Government agreed to sell two further SA1 plots (D5B and D9B) to Pobl and Beacon Cymru for 69 more social homes.

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is also expanding its footprint in SA1. Its Innovation Matrix — a facility to connect business and academia — launched in 2025, with further research and collaboration projects under discussion.

Taken together, these projects show the Central Area / Waterfront is finally beginning to deliver on its promise of a denser, more vibrant urban core. But while the commercial and cultural elements have advanced quickly, the housing element is still catching up. Council officers say the area remains a priority for affordable and mixed‑use growth, with brownfield redevelopment and conversions central to the strategy.

Fabian Way Corridor (planned: 525 homes | delivered: 60)

Marketed in the Local Development Plan as Swansea’s “Innovation Corridor,” Fabian Way was supposed to deliver hundreds of homes alongside jobs, research facilities and new commercial space. To date, just 60 homes have been built, leaving the residential element far short of the 525 promised.

Instead, most of the activity has been around infrastructure and employment. Swansea University’s Bay Campus is now firmly established, Amazon’s distribution centre dominates the eastern end, and SA1 continues to grow with new university and residential blocks. But the corridor’s housing allocations remain largely untouched.

Transport first, housing later

Two linked transport schemes are now at the heart of the strategy. The Baldwin’s Bridge replacement would see the existing bridge over Baldwin’s Crescent rebuilt or upgraded, while a new Langdon Road connection would create a spine road through SA1, parallel to Fabian Way. Together, they are designed to ease congestion, improve access to the city centre, and provide safer walking and cycling routes for students and commuters. Swansea Council has already approved land acquisition south of Fabian Way at the docks, and Welsh Government funding is in place for feasibility and design. The project is listed as a priority in the regional transport plan.

Crucially, this is a joint scheme between Swansea Council and Neath Port Talbot Council, because the county boundary runs directly through the middle of the development zone — just west of the Bay Campus. That split jurisdiction has long complicated delivery, but both councils are now working together to unlock the corridor’s potential.

Another missing piece is the long‑promised Southern Access Road to Coed Darcy. Planned for more than a decade, it was intended to link the 4,000‑home “urban village” on the former BP refinery site directly to Fabian Way, relieving pressure on Jersey Marine and providing a dedicated public transport corridor. Sometimes referred to as “Ffordd Amazon Stage 2,” the road was identified in the 2010 Fabian Way Transport Assessment as essential early infrastructure. Yet only a short stub was ever built, ending abruptly. The full link has been repeatedly delayed by the slow pace of Coed Darcy itself and the engineering challenge of crossing the protected Crymlyn Bog. Neath Port Talbot Council now acknowledges the scheme “has not been developed,” and its future depends on whether the re‑scaled Coed Darcy plans finally move forward.

Other works are also reshaping the area. Neath Port Talbot Council has begun major drainage improvements on Fabian Way to tackle persistent flooding, supported by the Welsh Government’s Resilient Roads Fund. Plans are advancing to expand the Fabian Way park‑and‑ride into a “green transport hub”, potentially with hydrogen production and large‑scale EV charging. And within SA1 itself, new planning applications for apartments on Langdon Road show that piecemeal residential growth is still happening.

For now, though, the vision of a thriving mixed‑use corridor remains incomplete. The infrastructure projects may unlock development sites and improve connectivity, but the housing allocations are still waiting to be realised — a decade after they were first promised.

Tawe Riverside / St Thomas (planned: 258 homes | delivered: 0)

On the east bank of the River Tawe, the St Thomas allocation was supposed to deliver 258 homes as part of a wider riverside regeneration. To date, not a single dwelling has been built. Instead, the area has become the focus of a broader transformation effort, backed by UK Government Levelling Up funding and a new masterplan led by Urban Splash.

Urban Splash and Lovell’s riverside vision

The St Thomas Riverside site, once home to a railway station and later left as a green corridor, is now the subject of detailed proposals by Urban Splash and Lovell. Their Stage 1 Project Plan sets out around 158 new homes, half of them affordable, alongside a riverside promenade, a new public square, and flexible commercial units. Stirling Prize‑winning architects AHMM are part of the design team, with plans for riverside townhouses, a six‑storey “marker” building, and a central garden street. The scheme promises to reconnect St Thomas with the river for the first time in 150 years, with potential for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge to the city centre.

Levelling Up heritage projects

At the same time, the Tawe Riverside Corridor Action Plan highlights the area’s role as a heritage destination. A £28m Levelling Up programme is funding restoration of the Hafod Morfa Copperworks, new pontoons on the river, and upgrades to Swansea Museum. Together, these projects aim to create jobs, attract visitors, and complete missing links in the riverside walkway and cycle network.

Council depot site in play

The council’s own landholdings are also in play. Swansea Council has confirmed plans to vacate its long‑standing Pipehouse Wharf depot, relocating operations to a new facility at the Enterprise Park. The riverside depot, currently used for waste and recycling vehicles, sits next to the St David’s student accommodation on Morfa Road. Officials say the site is expected to generate “significant interest” from potential purchasers once it is released, adding to the pool of land available for regeneration along the Tawe corridor. Coastal Housing previously explored a 150‑home scheme here, though those plans did not progress. With the depot now earmarked for disposal, the site is once again likely to attract developers as part of the city’s wider riverside transformation.

For residents, the promise is of a greener, better‑connected neighbourhood, with new homes, public spaces and heritage attractions. But as with so many of Swansea’s strategic sites, the vision remains on paper. Delivery will depend on overcoming viability challenges, securing infrastructure funding, and navigating new environmental rules such as nutrient neutrality.

📊 Strategic Sites at a Glance

Parc Mawr, Penllergaer
644 planned | 119 built

Garden Village, Gorseinon
700 planned | 24 built

Pontarddulais
486 planned | 0 built

Morriston, Clasemont Road
490–600 planned | 0 built

Cefn Coed Hospital, Tycoch
371 planned | 73 built (before the LDP, none since)

Waunarlwydd / Fforestfach
716 planned | 0 built

Gowerton, Fairwood Terrace
664 planned | 0 built

Llangyfelach, M4 J46
565 planned (LDP allocation) | 0 built

Central Area / Waterfront
856 planned | 128 built

Fabian Way Corridor
525 planned | 60 built

Tawe Riverside / St Thomas
258 planned | 0 built

Total promised: 6,575–6,685 | Total delivered: fewer than 300

Why Swansea’s big sites stalled

The council points to Covid shutdowns, labour shortages, rising material costs, and new rules on drainage and biodiversity. Developers say large, infrastructure‑heavy sites are harder to make viable quickly. Campaigners argue the allocations were unrealistic, too big, or in the wrong places. And Swansea is not alone: Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot have all reported housing shortfalls.

Evans told councillors the next plan will need to be more selective:

“All of those sites that are identified, whether for housing or employment, are being reviewed as part of the new plan. What we need to do is make sure we’re identifying the most sustainable and deliverable, most appropriate sites for the next 10 to 15 years.”

On top of these challenges, a new environmental constraint has emerged — one that could stall Swansea’s housing pipeline even further.

Environmental rules put housing targets at risk

New nutrient neutrality rules could delay major housing projects across Swansea for months, threatening the city’s ability to meet its housing targets.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has ruled that the Burry Inlet and Carmarthen Bay Estuary Special Area of Conservation is in an “unfavourable condition” due to excess nutrients. That means every new development in the catchment must now prove it will not add to pollution levels.

Ian Davies, the council’s development manager, told the planning committee:

“We have to be sure that the development is not adding to the nutrients that are entering the water course and therefore impacting adversely on water quality.”

He warned that while small schemes such as household extensions can be “screened out”, larger housing projects — from single dwellings to 500‑home estates — will be on hold unless developers can demonstrate nutrient neutrality.

“Some of the larger applications… are going to be on hold. My feeling is that’s likely to be months rather than weeks in resolving this, even longer potentially.”

The change affects some of Swansea’s biggest growth areas, including the Loughor Estuary and north‑west Swansea, where thousands of homes are allocated in the Local Development Plan.

Cllr Peter Black told the committee:

“This area is one of the biggest areas of new house building growth in Swansea… those bigger applications are going to be massively hit by this.”

Knock‑on effects for viability

Developers will be expected to fund mitigation measures, such as reed beds or land set aside for nutrient offsetting, secured for the lifetime of the development. Officers warned this could reduce the scope for Section 106 contributions, meaning fewer affordable homes or lower investment in schools and community facilities.

“You may see reports recommending approval but not at the sort of levels of policy requirements in terms of section 106 contributions,” Davies said.

Regional challenge, national task force

The rules apply equally to council‑led housing schemes, not just private developers. Swansea is now working with Welsh Government, NRW and neighbouring authorities through a new task force to find long‑term solutions.

Tom Evans, the council’s placemaking and strategic planning manager, stressed that Swansea is not being passive:

“We have a seat around the table at the Welsh Government task force… we are very closely involved in trying to find the solutions.”

Officials stressed the requirement is a matter of law under the Habitats Regulations, not optional guidance, and will shape how housing sites are brought forward in the next Local Development Plan.

What it means for people here

For families, it means fewer affordable homes and more bidding wars. For young people, it means being priced out or pushed further afield. For communities, it means the schools, GP surgeries and roads that were supposed to come with the big sites haven’t materialised, leaving existing services under strain. Instead, most of Swansea’s new homes are coming from smaller “windfall” sites like Cwmrhydyceirw Quarry and Hendrefoilan. They’ve delivered hundreds of homes, but without the infrastructure the SDAs were supposed to guarantee.

The road to LDP2

The council is now preparing a new Local Development Plan, known as LDP2, which will run to 2038. Officials say the lessons of the past five years will feed into it: why the strategic sites stalled, how to make development viable, and how to ensure infrastructure arrives alongside homes.

Evans added that continuing to monitor delivery will be important:

“Producing another monitoring report would help us see whether or not delivery has been significantly affected by these new constraints.”

The draft “Preferred Strategy” for LDP2 doesn’t re‑list the stalled strategic sites by name. Instead, all existing allocations are being reviewed — some may be carried forward, others dropped, and new ones added. More than a thousand “candidate sites” have been submitted by landowners and developers, but inclusion on the register doesn’t guarantee allocation. Only those judged sustainable and deliverable will make it into the next plan.

For campaigners in Penllergaer, Pontarddulais and Gowerton, it’s a chance to argue again that their communities cannot absorb the scale of development proposed. For those struggling to find a home, it’s a reminder that Swansea’s housing crisis is far from solved. The next plan will shape where the city grows for the next decade. The question is whether it can succeed where the last one has so clearly stumbled.

Officials have confirmed that nutrient neutrality will be a core test for candidate sites, with only those able to demonstrate mitigation likely to survive into the final plan.

🗂️ What is LDP2?

The new plan:
Swansea is replacing its current Local Development Plan with a new version, known as LDP2, which will run to 2038.

Preferred Strategy:
Published in late 2024, it sets the vision, growth level and broad approach for where new homes and jobs should go.

Candidate sites:
More than 1,000 pieces of land have been put forward by landowners and developers. These are not allocations — they are being assessed for suitability and deliverability.

Strategic sites under review:
The big sites from the current plan are being reassessed. Some may be carried forward, others dropped, and new ones added.

Timeline:
A detailed “Deposit Plan” with confirmed sites is due in 2026. Adoption of LDP2 is expected around 2027/28.

Environmental constraints such as nutrient neutrality will be central to which sites are judged “deliverable” in the new plan.

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Morriston Jhoots Pharmacy crisis: staff unpaid for weeks and no pharmacist on site, says MP

Staff left without pay, patients without medicines

Mr Bell says he has been contacted by workers at the Morriston branch who have not received proper wages for nearly eight weeks. Despite being issued payslips, staff claim no pay was transferred in September at all.

The branch has also been without a dispensing pharmacist for more than seven weeks, leaving patients unable to access prescriptions. Staff report that even when prescriptions could be issued, shortages of common medicines meant many customers were still left empty‑handed.

One employee told Swansea Bay News the situation was “genuinely shocking” and warned it was pushing colleagues into debt and affecting their mental health.

A pattern across the UK

The problems in Morriston are not isolated. Across the UK, Jhoots staff and locum pharmacists have reported months of unpaid wages, sudden closures and empty shelves.

• In Grimsby, a branch was forced to close after staff were left waiting for wages, with employees across the region reportedly owed hundreds of thousands of pounds.
• Locum pharmacists working for Jhoots nationally are said to be owed around £670,000 in unpaid fees, according to the Pharmacists’ Defence Association.
• In parts of Wales, staff have described going more than two months without pay, while branches sat idle for weeks with no pharmacist and no stock delivered.
• MPs in Somerset, Sidmouth and North Somerset have all raised concerns after patients were left unable to collect prescriptions, with some calling for the chain to be stripped of its NHS contracts.

The picture that emerges is of a company struggling to meet its most basic obligations to staff and patients — a situation that has left neighbouring pharmacies overwhelmed as they try to pick up the slack.

From Lloyds to Jhoots

When Jhoots took over a number of former Lloyds branches in 2023, the move was initially seen as a way of safeguarding local pharmacy provision after Lloyds’ withdrawal from the high street.

But two years on, the Morriston crisis and similar reports elsewhere raise questions about whether Jhoots has been able to sustain that rapid expansion. What was once presented as a lifeline for communities now risks becoming a liability, with staff unpaid and patients left without vital medicines.

MP presses regulator and company directors

Mr Bell has raised the matter with the General Pharmaceutical Council, urging the regulator to consider enforcement action against both the company and its superintendent pharmacist.

He has also written to Jhoots’ directors, calling on them to step aside if they cannot guarantee continuity of service and job security for staff.

“Pharmacies are a vital cornerstone of communities, but Jhoots is letting our community down,” Mr Bell said. “This situation at the Morriston branch cannot continue – staff are being treated extremely poorly, and patients and service users are being failed.”

The MP is also liaising with the local health board to seek a resolution that protects both patients and employees.

Related Articles

• Independent pharmacy chain picks up former Lloyds branches
  Jhoots expanded in 2023 by taking over a number of Lloyds Pharmacy sites across Wales.
• Public urged to return used inhalers to pharmacies
  A campaign calls on patients to recycle inhalers to cut waste and reduce carbon emissions.
• Swansea’s Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsbury’s set to close
  Well Pharmacy says it is ready to step in to support patients as Lloyds exits supermarket sites.
• Swansea and Neath Valleys pharmacies lead inhaler recycling
  Local pharmacies praised for pioneering a project to recycle inhalers and tackle climate change.

#featured #GeneralPharmaceuticalCouncil #JhootsPharmacy #Morriston #pay #Pharmacist #PharmacistsDefenceAssociation #Pharmacy #prescriptions #TorstenBell

Nine Swansea vape shops shut down in major crackdown on illegal sales

Three‑day operation across the city

The closures followed a three‑day enforcement operation led by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards team, supported by South Wales Police, HMRC, Home Office Immigration officers and specialist tobacco sniffer dogs.

Codenamed Operation Ceecee & Marvel, the crackdown targeted 14 shops across the city where earlier test purchases had already confirmed the sale of illicit products.

By the end of the week, nine premises had been shut down, 11 people arrested, and five vehicles linked to the trade seized.

Raids reveal hidden stashes

Among the shops raided was Bob Marley Vapes on St Helen’s Road, whose registered owner was jailed earlier this year for dealing in £100,000 worth of black‑market cigarettes and vapes. Despite that, the store had continued trading.

When officers returned last week, they found rucksacks and bags stuffed with illegal disposable vapes hidden in back rooms. Other shops were found to be using “stash cars” to store contraband, with one vehicle also containing cannabis products.

Shops closed during the operation included:

• Bob Marley Vapes, Asia Vapes and Kubus Vapes (St Helen’s Road)
• World of Vapes (Pontarddulais)
• Crystal Vapes (Gorseinon)
• Morriston Mini Market and Monsoon Vapes (Morriston)
• Snoop Vapes and Bob CBD Vapes (city centre)

Thousands of products seized

In total, officers confiscated:

• 971 packs of cigarettes (counterfeit value £4,855; retail value £15,000)
• 970 packets of hand‑rolling tobacco (counterfeit value £19,500; retail value £39,000)
• 2,292 vapes (estimated value £23,000)

All seized products will now be destroyed. Two of the shops have already been ordered by magistrates to remain closed for up to three months, with further hearings due next week.

Council: “Strong message to businesses”

Councillor Andrew Williams, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services (Performance), said:

“Our Trading Standards Team has made this issue a priority and has been able to gather large amounts of intelligence in terms of which shops in the city have previously been selling illegal goods to consumers, including children.

The latest operation has been very successful in our efforts to disrupt this type of trade and hopefully it will send out a very strong message to other businesses in the city — that they have a duty to ensure they are trading legally and not putting consumers at risk.”

Police: “Dangerous and linked to organised crime”

Inspector Andrew Hedley of South Wales Police added:

“Counterfeit tobacco and vapes are not only illegal, but they are incredibly dangerous for those who use them. Counterfeit cigarettes are unregulated, dangerous and fund serious organised crime. The vapes seized do not comply with UK safety standards and can pose a risk to consumers’ health.

These businesses were all given warnings to stop selling these items but disregarded them. They will now face prosecution for various offences as a result.”

Community impact

The raids drew crowds on St Helen’s Road, where locals watched as officers carried out searches and seized goods. For residents, the operation was a visible sign of action against a black market that has been openly trading in parts of the city.

Related Articles

• Shop raided for selling illegal vapes and cigarettes just yards from council offices
• Thousands of illegal vapes discovered in disused WWII bunker in Swansea garden
• More than 5,000 illegal vapes seized from Swansea shops in Trading Standards raid
• London vape boss ordered to repay £325k after Swansea Trading Standards bust

#BobCBDVapes #BobMarleyVapes #CllrAndrewWilliams #counterfeitCigarettes #counterfeitTobacco #Gorseinon #illegalVapes #KubusVapes #Morriston #MorristonMiniMarket #Pontarddulais #SnoopVapes #SouthWalesPolice #StHelensRoad #Swansea #SwanseaCityCentre #SwanseaCouncil #TradingStandards #vapes #WorldOfVapes

Swansea cannabis dealer jailed for harassing ex and witness intimidation

Ashley Cann, 29, of Glantawe Street, Morriston, was caught with 130g of cannabis worth around £1,000 at his father’s home, along with drug-dealing paraphernalia including scales, snap-seal bags and £380 in cash.

After his arrest, Cann went to his ex-girlfriend’s home, shouting abuse and calling her a “rat” and a “slag” while pushing and shoving her. Despite being banned from contacting her, he continued to harass her — turning up at her grandmother’s house, phoning her with insults, and later posting a threatening message on Facebook.

In a statement read to Swansea Crown Court, the victim said she hoped Cann would finally get help for his anger issues, warning there would be “new victims” otherwise.

Judge Geraint Walters told Cann he had “a particular liking for harassing people” and had been before the courts “time and time again”.

Cann, who has 15 previous convictions for 46 offences, admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply, assault, harassment, and witness intimidation. He was jailed for 15 months and handed a five-year restraining order preventing contact with his ex-partner.

[Lead image: South Wales Police]

#DrugDealing #Morriston #SouthWalesPolice #SwanseaCrownCourt

‘Put your devices down’ – Swansea opticians issue call to young patients during National Eye Health Week

Charles Richards of Bater & Stout Opticians in Woodfield Street, Morriston, has joined colleagues across the UK in backing National Eye Health Week, which runs from 22–28 September.

The campaign highlights the importance of regular eye exams and simple lifestyle changes that can help prevent avoidable sight loss. Research shows that half of all sight loss is preventable.

Mr Richards said too much time on digital devices is already having an impact on young patients:

“As part of this year’s National Eye Health Week we’re advocating a screen amnesty at 8:20pm (20:20) – a perfect opportunity for parents to get their children to put their screens down and give their eyes a rest before bedtime.

Research has shown that spending too long on digital devices can have an adverse impact on eye health. We want to keep our young patients seeing better for longer, so reducing screen time can really help with that.”

On average, people in the UK spend around 35 hours a week staring at a computer screen, with 90 per cent reporting symptoms of screen fatigue such as tired or irritated eyes, blurred vision, headaches and poor colour perception.

Opticians recommend the 20‑20‑20 rule to reduce eye strain: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Organisers of National Eye Health Week are also encouraging people to eat a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables and nuts, quit smoking, exercise regularly and have an eye exam at least once every two years.

#BaterStoutOpticians #digitalDevices #Morriston #NationalEyeHealthWeek #Optician #screenTime

Swansea grandfather who turned redundancy into opportunity is toasting national awards glory

Leslie Wheelan, 68, from Morriston, had spent most of his adult life working in cosmetics factories before being made redundant in his early 50s. With a mortgage to pay and two teenage daughters at home, he decided to take a leap of faith and applied for a job with Swansea‑based M&D Care.

To his surprise, he discovered his true calling.

Now a senior support worker at a Supported Living Service in Crown Street, Morriston, Leslie helps adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs to fulfil their goals and regain independence. His dedication has seen him shortlisted for the Care Practitioner in Small Group or Supported Living Award, sponsored by Cartref Ni, at this year’s Wales Care Awards.

The awards, organised by Care Forum Wales and sponsored overall by Meddyg Care, celebrate the frontline heroes of social care. All finalists are guaranteed to receive either a gold, silver or bronze award at the ceremony, which takes place at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on Friday, October 17.

Leslie, a grandfather of eight, said he was “over the moon” to be nominated.

“I was quite taken aback when I found out – it’s not often you get to be nominated for a national award. My manager put me forward, she pushes us to be the best we can be and is an inspiration. We all work as a team, and it’s a team effort. I’m elated.”

After leaving school in Birchgrove, Leslie worked in factories for decades and had never considered a career in care. But redundancy forced him to rethink.

“It was a very daunting experience. My daughters were in their teens, I had a mortgage, and everything runs through your mind at 100 miles per hour. It wasn’t a nice time.

I took a year out and then spotted a job with M&D Care in the local paper. I was nervous at first, but once I started I realised I’d been doing it my whole life. As the eldest of seven, I was dressing my brothers and sisters, getting them to school before I even got ready myself. Without realising it, I was already doing care work.”

Now semi‑retired and working two days a week, Leslie is praised by colleagues for his calmness and ability to de‑escalate challenging situations.

“It’s very rewarding. You support someone for many years and then see them move on to independent living – that’s the greatest reward you could get. I’ve never won anything in my life, so just to be at the final is a privilege. The social care sector is very underrated and doesn’t get enough credit. It can be just as skilled and demanding as any other profession.”

Sian Henley‑Davies, M&D Care’s Marketing Coordinator, said:

“We are incredibly proud that three of our outstanding colleagues – Deborah Deru, Rob Hayward, and Les Whelan – have been named as finalists in this year’s Wales Care Awards. Their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the people we support make a real difference every single day.”

Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, added:

“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award. The Wales Care Awards underline the importance of the social care sector – it is the glue that binds our communities together.”

#Birchgrove #Care #careAwards #CareForumWales #MDCare #Morriston #redundancy #supportedLiving

Inquest unable to determine cause of fatal Morriston gas blast

The 68‑year‑old grandfather died from chest and neck injuries when his home on Clydach Road was destroyed in a blast on 13 March 2023, sending debris across the road and into nearby streets.

A week‑long inquest at Swansea Guildhall concluded Mr Davies died in an explosion, but the cause could not be established because key evidence from the scene was “compromised and incomplete”.

Senior coroner Aled Wyn Gruffydd apologised to the family for being unable to provide a clear explanation.

Family say they were “let down”

During proceedings, Mr Davies’ son Ricky told the court the family believed “major mistakes” had been made in the investigation, and that they had been “massively let down” by the loss of crucial evidence.

“We hope that harsh lessons have been learned and others don’t have to endure the heartache we have had to face,” he said.

Gas network ruled out

Wales and West Utilities, which maintains the gas network in the area, was represented at the inquest alongside the Health and Safety Executive.

Company representative Harry Lambert told the hearing the police had “absolute” responsibility for gathering evidence at the scene, and said there was “no evidence at all that the mains were the cause of the gas explosion”.

Background

Mr Davies, who worked in the construction industry, had rented the one‑bedroom end‑of‑terrace property for around four years before his death.

Earlier in the inquest, the jury heard from a neighbour who reported smelling gas in the weeks before the blast, and from the family, who criticised the handling of the investigation.

You can read our previous coverage here:

• Neighbour smelt gas weeks before fatal Morriston blast
• Family say “massive mistakes” led to loss of key evidence

#ClydachRoad #coroner #gasExplosion #HealthAndSafetyExecutive #HSE #inquest #Morriston #WalesAndWestUtilities

Family of Morriston blast victim say ‘massive mistakes’ led to loss of key evidence

Brian Lyn Davies, 68, died when his end‑terrace home on Clydach Road was destroyed in the early hours of 13 March 2023. The blast sent debris across the street, damaged neighbouring properties and forced dozens of people to evacuate.

At Swansea Guildhall this week, his son Ricky Davies told the jury:

“As a family we feel massive mistakes have been made and we have been massively let down by the authorities losing evidence.

We hope that harsh lessons have been learned and others don’t have to endure the heartache we have had to face.”

Rubble removed before examination

The inquest heard that in the hours after the explosion, Swansea Council staff operating a JCB removed rubble from the site as part of efforts to locate Mr Davies, who was unaccounted for at the time.

Around 60 tonnes of debris from 159 Clydach Road — described in court as “potential evidence” — was taken to a baling plant at a recycling centre and not preserved for forensic examination.

A gas pipe excavated at the scene was later found to be fractured in several places, with the largest crack measuring between four and eight millimetres. A central question for the jury is whether those cracks existed before the explosion or were caused during excavation.

Expert evidence on gas leak

Stephen Critchlow, from the Health and Safety Executive’s science division, told the inquest he had initial reservations about attending after seeing news footage showing the scene had been “significantly compromised”.

When he did visit, he said:

“I was able to see straight away the road had effectively been cleared of debris from the explosion. My opinion was most of the debris on scene was from the attached 157 neighbouring property, and that materials from 159 had been cleared from the scene.”

On the fractured gas main, he said:

“There is a leaking gas main as a matter of fact. It is close to the house, as a matter of fact, and a leaking gas main outside a house is a common cause of explosion.

I absolutely would not rule out the gas main being causal… but I can’t say any stronger than that, simply because we can’t rule out a gas leak existing in the house already, because that evidence has been lost.”

Mr Critchlow said a gas meter and cooker seized from the property were “gas tight” and the boiler had “no significant leak”.

Gas network denies fault

Harry Lambert, representing Wales & West Utilities, told the hearing the police had “absolute” responsibility for gathering evidence at the scene and said:

“The evidence is compromised and incomplete. There is no evidence at all that the mains were the cause of the gas explosion.”

Neighbour’s account

Earlier in the week, the inquest heard from Claire Bennett, who lived next door at 157 Clydach Road. She said she had smelled gas at the rear of her property for about a fortnight before the blast, which she believed was coming from a nearby address in Field Close.

The jury has now heard all the evidence. The inquest has been adjourned until Monday 15 September, when proceedings will resume.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Inquest hears neighbour smelt gas weeks before fatal Morriston blast
Jury told of gas smell behind neighbouring property in the fortnight before explosion which killed Brian Lyn Davies.

Morriston house explosion: Man named as Brian Davies
Tributes paid to 68‑year‑old after Clydach Road home destroyed in blast that damaged neighbouring properties.

#ClydachRoad #coroner #Gas #gasExplosion #gasLeak #Guildhall #inquest #Morriston #Swansea #WalesAndWestUtilities

Inquest hears neighbour smelt gas weeks before fatal Morriston blast

Brian Davies, 68, died when his end‑terrace home on Clydach Road was obliterated in the early hours of 13 March last year. The explosion sent debris across the street and into neighbouring gardens, damaged multiple properties and forced dozens of people to evacuate.

At Swansea Guildhall on Monday, the inquest heard from Claire Bennett, who lived next door to Mr Davies. She described a “really strong” smell of gas at the rear of her property for about a fortnight before the incident, which she assumed was linked to building work nearby.

On the morning of the blast, Ms Bennett had returned from the school run and was sitting in her lounge when she heard what she thought was a car crash.

“Things went dark and I lost a couple of seconds and came to. The house was filled with debris and the ceiling and walls had fallen in,” she said.

She recalled a man’s voice reassuring her as he pulled rubble away to free her from the sofa. Her son Ethan was also caught up in the explosion, and both have since received therapy for post‑traumatic stress.

“For about a year‑and‑a‑half from the moment I open my eyes in the morning until I go to bed at night, I thought I was going to die,” she told the inquest.

The inquest was shown CCTV of postman Jonathan Roberts driving past Mr Davies’ home at the moment of the blast, his van instantly engulfed in dust and debris.

Evidence was also read from the property’s owner, Jeffery White, who said no major works had been carried out in the year before the incident, and from a gas engineer who inspected the home in May 2022 and reported no smell of gas at that time.

Mr Davies, a grandfather‑of‑three and self‑employed builder, had rented the property for around four years. His son Ricky described him as “always in good spirits” with many friends and a love of fitness.

A community still feeling the impact

The March 2023 explosion prompted a major emergency response, with police, fire, ambulance and utility crews on scene for days. A major incident was declared, nearby roads were closed, and a community support hub was set up at Morriston Library.

Residents rallied to help those displaced, with fundraising appeals launched and neighbouring streets offering shelter, clothing and food. Gas pipe replacement work in the area was later brought forward.

Wales & West Utilities, which maintains the gas network, is represented at the inquest alongside the Health and Safety Executive.

The hearing is expected to last a week, examining both how Mr Davies died and the circumstances leading up to the explosion.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Major incident declared after gas explosion in Morriston
Emergency services respond after blast destroys home and damages neighbouring properties.

Man who died following explosion in Morriston named
Tributes paid to 68‑year‑old Brian Davies after fatal blast.

Council worker Keith praised for bravery after Morriston explosion rescue
Local authority employee hailed for pulling neighbour from debris.

Community praised for response to Morriston explosion
Residents rally to support those affected by the incident.

Morriston gas pipe replacement work brought forward in wake of home explosion incident
Utility company accelerates infrastructure upgrades following tragedy.

#ClydachRoad #coroner #featured #Gas #gasExplosion #Guildhall #HealthAndSafetyExecutive #HSE #inquest #Morriston #Swansea #WalesAndWestUtilities

Swansea’s air among UK’s worst, new study finds

Swansea has been ranked among the UK’s most polluted cities — with air quality so poor that residents are effectively inhaling the equivalent of 131 cigarettes a year, according to a new study.

The research, published by HouseFresh, uses the latest PM2.5 pollution data to calculate how many cigarettes people are indirectly “smoking” due to fine particle exposure. Swansea ties with Cardiff for the worst air in Wales, and ranks 8th in the UK overall — alongside cities like Manchester, London and Bristol.

The study uses a method developed by Berkeley Earth, which equates long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution with cigarette intake. Swansea’s average PM2.5 level in 2024 was 10.3 µg/m³, well above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 5 µg/m³.

A simplified measure vs. statutory monitoring

While the HouseFresh study offers a striking visual comparison, it’s based on a single annual average for PM2.5, designed to raise awareness rather than meet regulatory standards. Swansea Council’s approach is more technical and comprehensive — tracking seven key pollutants under the Air Quality (Wales) Regulations 2000, including nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, PM10, carbon monoxide, benzene, lead and 1,3-butadiene.

The council operates five automatic monitoring stations across the city, with real-time data available via its air quality dashboard. As of today, all stations are showing green status, indicating low pollution levels — a reminder that daily exposure can vary significantly, and that local improvements may not yet be reflected in long-term averages.

Council data shows mixed picture

Swansea Council’s 2024 Air Quality Progress Report confirms that PM2.5 levels remain a concern, particularly near busy roads and junctions. While most monitoring sites meet national standards, the report notes that 89 locations saw increases in pollution compared to 2022, with one site in Graig Trewyddfa recording the highest nitrogen dioxide levels in the city.

The council has declared several Air Quality Management Areas, including Hafod, Sketty and Fforestfach, due to long-term breaches of nitrogen dioxide limits. These areas are all close to major traffic routes, highlighting the impact of vehicle emissions on local air quality.

Public awareness campaign launched

In response to growing concerns, Swansea Council has launched a new city-wide awareness campaign in partnership with Swansea University, aimed at helping residents protect themselves and reduce their contribution to poor air quality.

Information posters have appeared at bus stops across the city, offering practical tips such as standing further back from the roadside when walking and switching off car engines when stationary. The campaign also highlights indoor air risks, including poor ventilation in homes.

David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Corporate Service and Performance, said:

“Part of the Council’s responsibility is to monitor air quality in the city and look at ways to combat air pollution as well as promote healthier communities. The latest study we are working on in partnership with Swansea University aims at providing the public with a series of helpful tips that assist in lessening the impact of poor air quality in your community.”

Researchers are working with the council to better understand public attitudes and behaviours around air pollution, with the goal of encouraging small, everyday changes that can lead to cleaner air and healthier communities.

Centre for Cities: emissions and air quality not always linked

A separate analysis by Centre for Cities, published in February, shows that Swansea is an outlier when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. While most UK cities have relatively low per capita emissions, Swansea’s figures are skewed by the presence of Port Talbot Steelworks, which contributes heavily to industrial output.

The report argues that air quality and emissions are separate issues — and that cities like Swansea can have high pollution levels even if their carbon footprint is relatively low. It calls for targeted policies to tackle local pollutants, such as vehicle emissions and wood-burning stoves, alongside broader climate measures.

Related stories on air quality, environment and clean-up efforts

Landmark water review recommends overhaul of Welsh regulation
Published July 2025: A major review calls for stronger oversight of water companies and pollution controls — with implications for urban air and water quality in Swansea and beyond.

Seabin installed at Swansea Marina to tackle marine litter
Published June 2025: A floating bin designed to collect plastic and debris from the water is now operating in Swansea Marina — part of wider efforts to clean up the city’s environment.

Council looks to improve air quality around schools in Carmarthenshire
Published May 2025: Carmarthenshire Council launches new measures to reduce pollution near schools, including traffic restrictions and awareness campaigns.

Swansea University academic appointed chair of Welsh Government clean air advisory panel
Published April 2025: Professor Ceri Davies will lead the panel advising ministers on how to tackle air pollution across Wales — with Swansea’s urban hotspots among the priority areas.

#airPollution #airQualityManagementSwansea #CardiffAirQuality #CentreForCitiesSwanseaEmissions #cigaretteEquivalentAirPollution #Fforestfach #Hafod #HouseFreshAirQualityStudy #Morriston #nitrogenDioxideSwansea #PM25SwanseaData #pollution #pollutionLevelsWales #Sketty #Swansea #SwanseaAirHealthImpact #SwanseaAirPollution #SwanseaCigaretteEquivalentPollution #SwanseaCouncilAirQualityReport #SwanseaEnvironmentNews #SwanseaPublicHealthEnvironment #SwanseaUrbanPollution #trafficPollutionSwansea #UKAirPollutionRankings #UKCitiesWorstAirQuality #WalesPM25Exposure #WelshGovernmentAirQuality