MOTORISTS WARNED: Three months of lane closures on Mumbles Road for gas pipe upgrade

Motorists are being warned to expect delays as a major gas pipe upgrade is set to begin on Mumbles Road next week, bringing with it three months of phased lane closures.

Wales & West Utilities will start work on 4 March to replace over 1,000 metres of gas pipes in the area, a project described as “vital to ensuring gas continues to flow safely and reliably to homes and businesses.”

The work, which is scheduled to finish in June, has been planned in conjunction with Swansea Council to minimise disruption. While access will be maintained at all times and traffic will still be able to travel in all directions, lane closures will be in place and motorists are advised to allow extra travel time.

Crucially, the project has been planned to avoid working on Mumbles Road itself during the busy Easter school holidays.

The work will be carried out in three phases:

•Phase 1: Mumbles Road at the junction with Sketty Lane (4 – 27 March)

•Phase 2: Mill Lane (30 March – 10 April)

•Phase 3: Mumbles Road at the junction of Mill Lane (13 April – 15 June)

Wales & West Utilities’ Adam Smith, who is managing the work, said the project was essential for the community.

“We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future,” he said.

“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of this community. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner, or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.”

He added that the work would also ensure the network is ready to transport green gases in the future.

#gasNetwork #gasPipeUpgrade #motoring #Mumbles #MumblesRoad #roadworks #SingletonHospital #Sketty #SkettyLane #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaUniversity #traffic #WalesWestUtilities #WalesAndWestUtilities

£150m sport and health superhub breaks ground at Sketty Lane

Diggers rolled onto the site this week as construction started on the National Institute for Sport and Health (NISH), a four‑storey landmark rising beside the Wales National Pool and directly opposite Singleton Hospital. The university says the location is no accident — the aim is to bring researchers, clinicians, athletes and industry specialists together in one place, with the hospital and sports facilities just steps away.

The project is being delivered for Swansea University and funded through the Swansea Bay City Deal, with support from Swansea Council and local health boards. Pick Everard is managing the scheme, working with architects Powell Dobson and main contractor Willmott Dixon.

Night‑time view of the planned sport and health superhub at Sketty Lane, with the building illuminated in the final design concept.
(Image: Powell Dobson)

Gareth Taylor, Principal Project Manager at Pick Everard, said the team has been shaping the project from the earliest stages. “Being involved from the early stages has given us a real understanding of how the building needs to operate, both now and in the future,” he said. “With the potential to make a genuine impact on health, sport and technology, delivering a project of this scale requires close collaboration across the full project team.”

Swansea University describes the institute as the first facility of its kind in the UK — a place where new sports technology, medical devices and health innovations can be developed, tested and scaled without leaving the region.

Professor Keith Lloyd, NISH Director, said the development will help put Swansea “on the global map” for research and innovation. “It will serve as a catalyst for discovery, investment, and improved wellbeing,” he said.

Inside, the building will house teaching rooms, media studios, sports technology labs, collaborative workspaces and demonstration areas. The university says it will act as the anchor for a wider Science and Innovation Park planned for the Sketty Lane site, creating a real‑world environment where ideas can move quickly from concept to testing.

Project leaders say the development will create more than 1,000 jobs in the Swansea area and contribute over £150 million to the regional economy by 2033.

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£150m sports and health superhub to rise at Sketty Lane

Pavilion out, powerhouse in

The existing pavilion at Sketty Lane will be replaced by a four‑storey, 2,000m² building at the entrance to Swansea Bay Sports Park. Swansea University, which is leading the project, says the facility will bring together public, private and academic partners to create what it describes as a “first‑of‑its‑kind innovation ecosystem.”

Jobs, investment and global ambition

According to Swansea University and Swansea Bay City Deal backers, the project is expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs and contribute over £150 million to the regional economy by 2033. Supporters argue the centre will accelerate growth in sport technology, medical technology and healthcare innovation, while critics may note that such projections remain dependent on future investment and delivery.

Inside the new centre

Plans for the building include a Health and Wellbeing Academy and a Sport Simulation Suite, alongside co‑working and collaboration areas. Swansea University says innovation and incubation suites will provide space for start‑ups, while teaching and media facilities will support research and training. A Vodafone hub is also planned, which the company says will provide on‑site technical expertise.

These facilities are intended to complement nearby assets such as Singleton Hospital, Swansea University’s existing training centres, and the green spaces of Singleton Park and Swansea Bay.

Artist’s impression of the inside of the planned National Institute for Sport and Health at Sketty Lane, Swansea — a flagship centre for innovation in sport, health and technology.
(Image: Swansea University)

“On the global map”

Professor Keith Lloyd, NISH Director, said the institute would “help put Swansea — and Wales — on the global map for cutting‑edge research, product development, and community health innovation.” He described the project as a catalyst for discovery, investment and improved wellbeing.

Opening in 2027

Construction is scheduled to begin in January, with the building expected to open in 2027. NISH is already inviting applications for office space rental and virtual memberships, though the long‑term impact of the project will only become clear once the centre is operational.

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#HealthAndWellbeingAcademy #NationalInstituteForSportAndHealth #NISH #SkettyLane #sport #SportSimulationSuite #Swansea #SwanseaBayCityDeal #SwanseaBaySportsPark #SwanseaUniversity