SWANSEA: Could the city be home to a new Eden Project-style resort? The team behind Xanadoo are actively looking for a site

A world-class visitor attraction inspired by Cornwall’s Eden Project is being considered for Swansea – but the developers say no site has yet been identified and they are actively inviting anyone with a suitable location to get in touch.

The project is called Xanadoo – a name that echoes Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous 1797 poem Kubla Khan, in which Xanadu is the pleasure dome of Kublai Khan, a place of magnificence and wonder. Xanadu also featured in Olivia Newton-John’s 1980 hit of the same name, giving the word a warm pop culture resonance for many visitors who would be the target audience. The developers have given it their own distinctive spelling.

Behind the plans is Gaynor Coley, one of the founders of Cornwall’s Eden Project, which transformed a former clay mine into a botanical garden and generated an estimated £6 billion in economic impact for Cornwall and the West Country over 30 years. Coley’s firm, Road to Happiness, which she runs with partner Susan Hill who also worked at the Eden Project, is behind the Xanadoo concept.

Coley, who is originally from Cwmbran, said she believed Xanadoo could do for south Wales what the Eden Project did for Cornwall. “We believe Xanadoo can do the same for south Wales as the Eden Project did for Cornwall. It will bring sustainable tourism, support hospitality and creativity, storytelling, digital and health and wellbeing,” she said.

The prospectus for the project estimates a site could attract 600,000 visitors a year and generate £15 million in annual revenue while employing 250 full-time staff, with an overall economic impact of £840 million over 30 years. The resort would have four core elements – a Gallery of Marvellous Solutions showcasing exhibits currently in storage in galleries and museums across the world; a food and craft market; a Tomorrow’s World innovation exhibit using VR and augmented reality; and a giant playground.

The primary focus of the developers appears to be south-east Wales, with Road to Happiness currently in discussions with Torfaen Borough Council, having previously worked with them on redesigning Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran. Sites in Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent are being actively considered. Swansea is mentioned as an additional possibility – with Coley saying she is “still open minded” and “actively looking for sites” in Swansea alongside Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent.

No specific Swansea site has been named and no discussions with Swansea Council have been confirmed. Online commenters have already begun speculating about potential locations – with the former Felindre Steelworks site emerging as one suggestion. The 16-hectare Parc Felindre site on the northern fringe of Swansea is the former Felindre Tinplate Works, remediated by a joint venture between Swansea Council and the Welsh Government, but it has remained largely undeveloped despite years of attempts to market it as a business and industrial park.

The steelworks employed 2,500 people at its peak in the 1970s before closing in 1989 – giving the site an industrial heritage that could echo Eden’s own clay mine origins. The site is well connected to the M4 at junction 46, though it sits well north of the city centre and the main tourist corridors.

If Swansea were selected, it would join a city that has been steadily building its credentials as a visitor destination. The Skyline development on Kilvey Hill is transforming one of the city’s most prominent landmarks into a major tourist attraction. The Hafod Morfa Copperworks – where Penderyn Distillery has opened a visitor experience – is being brought back to life as a heritage and hospitality destination in the Lower Swansea Valley.

Plans for an aquarium and lido at the Civic Centre site are also advancing, and beyond the city itself, the Gower Peninsula – the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – remains one of Wales’s most powerful draws for visitors, giving any major attraction in the area access to an already-established tourist catchment.

Torfaen Borough Council has discussed the project formally, though its deputy chief executive described it as a “potential tourism product” at “very, very early stages.” The concept film produced for Xanadoo describes it as seeking an iconic new-build or heritage site in south-east Wales – a region with a “powerful industrial legacy, dramatic landscapes and major nearby catchments.”

Whether Swansea ultimately features in those plans remains to be seen. Coley has encouraged anyone who thinks there is a location that could be right for Xanadoo to get in touch with Road to Happiness directly.

Swansea’s growing visitor economy

Council approves plan for Skyline development on Kilvey Hill
The ambitious hilltop attraction already transforming Swansea’s skyline.

Welsh business chosen to bring new life to Swansea heritage buildings
The Hafod Morfa Copperworks coming back to life as a heritage and hospitality destination.

New artist’s impression reveals dramatic transformation planned for Swansea’s Civic Centre
Plans for an aquarium, lido and major redevelopment of the civic centre site.

Gower: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70
Why Gower remains one of Wales’s most powerful draws for visitors.

All the exciting plans for Swansea as part of the £1bn regeneration programme
The full picture of Swansea’s transformation ambitions.

#EdenProject #Gowerton #SwanseaCouncil

SWANSEA: Debenhams building sold to Quadrant owners as three major new tenants set to be named ‘within days’

Swansea’s long-vacant former Debenhams building has been sold by the council to Centurion – the company that already owns and operates the Quadrant Shopping Centre and Parc Tawe – in a deal that paves the way for three major new tenants to move in before the end of 2026.

The sale clears the way for two major national retailers and a national leisure operator to be confirmed as tenants of the three-storey building, which has stood empty since Debenhams went into liquidation in 2021. Council leader Rob Stewart said the names of the companies would be announced “within the coming days.”

A spokesperson for the council leader confirmed the sale price is commercially confidential, but said it represents a saving compared to projected costs. The deal also means Centurion will take on the cost of fitting out the building — saving the council taxpayers the expense of that phase too.

The council had already completed the strip-out of the building, which was purchased for approximately 2.85 million pounds using Welsh Government Transforming Towns funding in 2023 and hollowed back to bare concrete by contractor Andrew Scott Ltd.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart described it as big news for the city. “Shoppers want choice. Today’s news at the former Debenhams delivers exactly that – a major national retailer, a sports and leisure centre, dozens of new jobs, and a renewed reason for families to spend their day in our city centre,” he said.

He added that the sale to Centurion represented a significant step forward for Swansea’s wider regeneration. “New offices are opening across the city. The Swansea Bay Metro will make getting in and out of Swansea easier than ever. Swansea Council has delivered record investment over the past 12 years. We will continue to invest, back our city, and make Swansea a place everyone wants to be.”

Stewart also addressed the M&S closure announced this week, expressing disappointment that the retailer had not given the city time to find a new site before closing its doors. “It is hugely disappointing that Marks and Spencer have decided to close their Swansea store at the end of May. Our first thoughts are with the 92 staff facing uncertainty,” he said. “We are working with M&S leadership to bring a full-line store back to the city, and that is what we will keep pressing for.”

Jane Rice of Centurion confirmed the deal had been signed the previous day and that tenant names were imminent. “We are so excited to be able to announce that we are now the proud owners of Debenhams and we have three major tenants lined up which we can’t announce just yet but it’s so exciting and we just can’t wait,” she said.

Watch: Council leader Rob Stewart and Centurion’s Jane Rice and Adam Gibbons react to the deal from inside the Quadrant Shopping Centre.

She added that the new tenants would transform the shopping experience in the Quadrant. “For every shopper that now enters the Quadrant, as and when all the stores are up and running, it will be a full experience — many different retailers on site, a complete experience, all that Christmas shopping, one-stop shop.”

Rice said Centurion had identified Swansea’s potential early. “We’ve recognised some time ago that Swansea is on the rise. There is billions of pounds of investment being poured into the city centre and we want to be part of that. This sort of demonstrates our commitment to help seeing that come to fruition.”

Adam Gibbons of Centurion added that the company had committed to Swansea for the long term. “We recognise early on that there is a lot of potential in Swansea city centre and this sort of demonstrates our commitment to help seeing that come to fruition,” he said.

The sale also clears the way for Centurion to move forward with wider investment and regeneration plans for the rest of the Quadrant – the shopping centre they have been steadily revitalising since taking over its ownership. Recent arrivals under Centurion’s stewardship have included a Holland and Barrett flagship store and a new Rituals outlet.

Debenhams opened as the flagship anchor of the Quadrant when it was first built in 1978-79, marking what was then a golden era for Swansea retail. Its closure in 2021 after the 242-year-old brand went into national liquidation left a three-storey void at the heart of the city’s main shopping centre.

The council’s purchase of the building in 2023 and the subsequent strip-out – which saw dramatic internal transformation photos emerge earlier this year – signalled the start of a new chapter for the site. Today’s sale to Centurion confirms that chapter is now ready to begin in earnest.

The announcement comes as Swansea city centre continues a broader retail revival, with over 120 new retailers, hospitality and leisure businesses having opened since 2020 and more than 1 billion pounds of regeneration investment underway across the city.

Centurion are keen to see the new stores open before the end of 2026. The names of the three tenants are expected to be confirmed within the coming days.

Swansea Bay News will bring you the full tenant announcement the moment it is made.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Flagship M&S store confirms May 30 closure date as council leader hints at Debenhams news
Yesterday’s M&S closure confirmation – and the tease that led to today’s announcement.

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The dramatic strip-out of the Quadrant unit earlier this year.

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How the council took ownership of the building in the first place.

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#CenturionGroup #Debenhams #featured #Quadrant #QuadrantShoppingCentre #retail #RobStewart #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaQuadrant

SWANSEA: Thieves steal Blackpill Lido sprinklers days before bank holiday opening — leaving families facing wait

Thieves have struck at one of Swansea’s most popular free family attractions just days before its summer opening, stealing the distinctive sprinklers from Blackpill Lido and forcing a delay that will disappoint thousands of families planning a bank holiday visit.

The sprinklers – which help keep visitors cool in the sunshine during the lido’s busy summer season – were taken from the site on Wednesday. Police have been informed and CCTV footage is being checked to help identify those responsible.

The lido had been due to open for the summer on Saturday 2 May, with council staff spending the week carrying out checks and repairs in preparation. Instead, visitors arriving this weekend will find it closed, with the opening now pushed back by at least a week.

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council’s Head of Cultural Services, Parks and Cleansing, said the council was working urgently to find a solution. “We’re disappointed and upset that this has happened and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we organise a fix that will allow us to open the lido safely as soon as possible,” she said.

She urged anyone with information to come forward. “The sprinklers were stolen from the site on Wednesday, and we’d urge anyone who might be able to help recover them to contact the police. We’re checking CCTV footage to see if they can help us identify the thieves,” she said.

She added that the sprinklers were distinctive and would have been difficult to remove unnoticed. “The sprinklers are distinctive and the two larger ones are quite heavy. They would have had to be lifted into a van or larger vehicle so it’s quite possible that someone would have seen it happening.”

Council teams are now working to create a temporary fix for the holes left where the sprinklers should be, so the lido can be used safely once the repair is complete. Once that work is finished, it will take a further three days to fill the pool area – meaning an opening date of at least a week away.

McNulty said the council remained committed to getting the lido open as quickly as possible. “Blackpill Lido is a fantastic free family destination, and we are doing all we can to resolve the issues and get the lido open. Although we are organising a temporary fix, we’re committed to replacing the sprinklers as soon as we can.”

Blackpill Lido sits on the seafront at Blackpill on the edge of Swansea Bay, and is one of the city’s most-loved free outdoor spaces during the summer months. The wide shallow pool is particularly popular with young children and their families during warm weather, and forms part of a wider package of free waterfront attractions in the bay area.

The theft comes as the council has been investing significantly in the bay area, with ambitious plans including padel courts, a zip wire and a year-round lido among proposals being considered for the future of Swansea Bay.

South Wales Police is investigating the theft. Anyone who may have seen something suspicious at the site on Wednesday, or who has any information about the whereabouts of the sprinklers, is asked to contact South Wales Police by calling 101, or to report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Summer fun returns: Swansea’s land train, pedalos and crazy golf back this month
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#Blackpill #BlackpillLido #Gower #Mumbles #sprinklers #SwanseaCouncil #theft

SWANSEA: Council trials on-street electric vehicle charging to help drivers without driveways

Swansea residents who park on the street are taking part in a pioneering trial that allows them to charge their electric vehicles outside their own homes – without creating a hazard for pedestrians walking past.

Swansea Council has teamed up with electric vehicle charging company Kerbo Charge to test an innovative solution for the growing number of EV owners who don’t have off-street parking. Ten households across the city have been selected to take part – following an open invitation to residents to register their interest last year – and have already had charging equipment installed at their properties.

The system works by cutting a shallow channel into the footway outside a resident’s home. A charging cable can then be fed from the home charger through the channel and across the pavement to the vehicle parked at the roadside – without leaving a cable lying across the pavement that could trip passers-by.

Stuart Davies, Swansea Council’s Head of Transport and Highways, said the trial was a response to the rapid growth of electric and hybrid vehicles on Welsh roads. “With the popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles increasing year on year, we know that we need to look at innovative new ways to enable all electric car owners to easily charge their cars,” he said.

He acknowledged that while many Swansea residents with driveways can already charge at home, those without off-street parking have been left relying on public charging points. “Residents that do not have a driveway or off-street parking at their homes have to rely on public charging points,” he said.

The council has expanded its public charging network in recent years, adding fast-charging points at council-owned car parks and on-street locations across the city to complement the wider commercial EV charging network. But the Kerbo Charge trial aims to go further – giving residents without driveways the same convenience as those who can charge at home overnight.

Davies said the trial would allow the council to assess whether the system could be rolled out more widely. “This trial will give us the opportunity to work with residents and Kerbo Charge and test this method of on-street charging to see the potential benefits and see if it is something we can develop further in the future,” he said.

Kerbo Charge has developed the channel solution specifically to address one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption in urban areas – the lack of home charging for the significant proportion of households without off-street parking.

The trial is being funded by the Welsh Government with support from Transport for Wales, as part of Wales’s wider push to support the transition to electric vehicles.

Swansea is not the only Welsh council exploring new approaches to EV charging infrastructure, but the Kerbo Charge technology represents one of the more inventive solutions to the pavement cable problem that has long made kerbside charging difficult to implement safely.

Households across the city were invited to register their interest in the trial in advance, with ten selected to participate in the first phase.

The council said it would evaluate the results of the trial before deciding whether to expand the scheme. Anyone interested in taking part in future phases can register their interest with Swansea Council directly.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

On-street electric vehicle charging to be trialled in Swansea
Our previous coverage of the original announcement of this trial.

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The latest additions to the public EV charging network across the Swansea area.

Electric boost: EV chargepoints in Wales grow by 25.7% in a year
The rapid expansion of Wales’s public charging network.

EV repair postcode lottery leaves huge gaps across south west Wales
The challenges still facing EV drivers in rural and semi-rural areas.

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SWANSEA: Flagship M&S store confirms May 30 closure date – as council leader hints at Debenhams news

The flagship Marks and Spencer store on Oxford Street in Swansea city centre will close its doors for good on Saturday 30 May, the retail giant has confirmed – bringing an end to a 69-year presence at the heart of the city.

M&S announced earlier this year that its Swansea city centre store had been underperforming for a prolonged period, and that the closure formed part of a wider programme to reshape its store estate. Around 92 members of staff were employed at the store when the decision was confirmed in February.

A spokesperson for M&S said: “Our M&S Swansea city centre store will close on Saturday, May 30. As previously announced, this decision forms part of our plans to reshape our store estate so we can invest in stores that better meet the needs of our customers. We remain committed to serving customers in Swansea through our nearby stores and online, and are working closely with Swansea Council and other local partners to explore opportunities for a future M&S presence in the city.”

Marks & Spencer’s Oxford Street store in Swansea city centre, which is set to close later in 2026 after nearly 100 years of trading
(Image: Google Maps)

The confirmation of a closing date will prompt renewed concern about the future of high street retail in Swansea, given the scale and prominence of the Oxford Street store. M&S has occupied a substantial footprint in the city centre for decades, and its loss leaves a significant gap at one of the busiest retail locations in south Wales.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the closure was hugely disappointing, and expressed frustration that a replacement site had not yet been secured before the shutters come down. “Hugely disappointing to see M&S press ahead with closure of this store before a new location within Swansea has been secured,” he said on social media.

Stewart added that the ideal outcome would have been a seamless transition for both staff and customers. “The ideal outcome, short of the current store remaining open, would have been having a new store open that staff and customers can move to, without a gap in trade or employment,” he said. “We will continue to work with M&S to secure a new location in Swansea, as close to the city centre as possible.”

A spokesperson for Swansea Council said the authority was continuing to work with M&S to find a new site. “We are disappointed that M&S has decided to close its store at the end of May. However, we are continuing to work with M&S to find a new site for them in the city.”

Rob Stewart’s post also contained a notable tease for shoppers concerned about the future of the city centre – hinting that a significant announcement about the former Debenhams building is expected imminently. “On a more positive note expect news on Debenhams tomorrow!” he wrote.

Former Debenhams in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre

The former Debenhams store has been the subject of ongoing redevelopment since the department store chain collapsed. Swansea Council purchased the building and has been working to bring new tenants in, with three businesses previously announced as part of the revamp.

Work to prepare the building for its new occupants began in earnest last year, with dramatic internal transformation photos showing the scale of the changes underway.

A side view of the escalators, revealing the cleared floor space stretching behind them. (Image: Swansea Council)

The closure has been the subject of intense political debate in Swansea since February, with MP Torsten Bell demanding staff support and a replacement store, and politicians clashing over the council’s city centre strategy in the weeks that followed.

Council Leader, Rob Stewart has since announced the sale of the former Debenhams building in the Quadrant to Centurion, with three major new tenants set to be named within days. Read the full story here.

The M&S store on Oxford Street remains open until 30 May.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

M&S to close 69-year-old Swansea store in huge shock to council
Our original report on the closure announcement in February.

M&S fightback: MP Torsten Bell demands staff support and new store for Swansea
Political pressure mounts after the closure bombshell.

Politicians demand action as M&S closure sparks row over council vanity projects
The closure triggers a wider debate about Swansea’s city centre strategy.

M&S row: Council leader accuses Senedd candidate of using job losses for deplorable election campaign
The closure becomes a flashpoint in the Senedd election campaign.

Inside Swansea’s old Debenhams: photos show dramatic transformation as revamp gathers pace
Watch for our Debenhams update – expected imminently.

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GOWER: The UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty turns 70 – here’s why it’s still one of Britain’s most special places

The Gower Peninsula is celebrating a landmark birthday this month – turning 70 as the UK’s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a designation that transformed how Britain thinks about protecting its most treasured landscapes.

On 9 May 1956, Gower became the first place in the UK to be officially recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), setting a precedent that has since led to 46 National Landscapes being protected across the country. Seventy years on, it remains one of Wales’s most visited and most loved destinations.

The peninsula’s appeal is easy to understand. From the award-winning sands of Rhossili and the dramatic limestone cliffs of the south coast to rolling green commons, saltmarshes, hidden coves and charming villages, Gower has been stopping people in their tracks for generations. It is possible to surf in the morning, walk along the Wales Coast Path in the afternoon, and watch the sun set over one of the UK’s most photographed coastlines in the evening.

Rhossili Bay sunset (Image: Stewart Black / Flickr / Creative Commons 2.0)

Gower is also steeped in extraordinary history. The peninsula is home to Europe’s oldest known ceremonial human burial site – the Red Lady of Paviland, dating back around 34,000 years – as well as standing stones, shipwrecks, caves, castles and the famous Arthur’s Stone. Few places in Britain pack so much natural and cultural heritage into such a compact area.

More recently, Gower was also designated as one of 46 National Landscapes across the UK, reflecting a modernisation of the way protected landscapes are described. The legal status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty remains unchanged, but the new name signals a broader ambition to connect people with the land and promote sustainable use alongside conservation.

Gower has also become South Wales’s first International Dark Sky Community – a recognition of the quality of its night skies and a sign of how protected landscapes are adapting to modern challenges beyond simply preserving what is there.

A clear night sky over the Gower coastline, showcasing the dark‑sky conditions that helped the area earn International Dark Sky Community status.
Photo: Visit Swansea Bay

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council‘s head of service for cultural services, said the anniversary was a chance to celebrate not just the landscape but the people who make it special. “The anniversary is a chance to celebrate not just Gower’s landscapes, but also the people, communities and businesses that help make it such a welcoming place,” she said.

She added that Gower continued to pioneer new approaches to land management. “Gower continues to be a pioneer, becoming South Wales’ first International Dark Sky Community, showing how protected landscapes adapt to modern challenges.”

Swansea Council is encouraging everyone to get involved in the celebrations, whether visiting for the first time or returning to a favourite spot. “We’re welcoming everyone to be part of the celebrations whether you’re discovering Gower for the first time, or coming back to your favourite happy place,” McNulty said. “Explore responsibly, support local businesses and help keep this beautiful corner of South West Wales special for years to come.”

A young horse grazes peacefully on the cliffs at Rhossili as the sun sets over the Gower coast
(Image: Robert Morgan)

Gower’s designation in 1956 came at a time when rapid post-war development was threatening some of Britain’s most significant natural areas. The new AONB status gave the peninsula legal protection and established a framework that has since been applied across the UK, from the Cotswolds to the Causeway Coast.

Today the peninsula attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, contributing significantly to Swansea’s tourism economy. The challenge for the next 70 years will be balancing that popularity with the conservation of the very qualities that make Gower so special.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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GOWERTON: Persimmon’s Fairwood Terrace plans dealt massive blow as Welsh Government orders full environmental assessment

Campaigners fighting Persimmon Homes’ proposed 216-home development at Fairwood Terrace in Gowerton have won a landmark ruling after a Welsh Government planning inspector ordered the scheme to undergo a full Environmental Impact Assessment – directly accepting their argument that the developer cannot treat each planning application in the area as if the others do not exist.

The ruling, issued by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), reverses previous decisions on the Fairwood Terrace site and represents a significant setback for Persimmon Homes, which had been appealing Swansea Council‘s 2024 refusal of the scheme on traffic grounds. The inspector has ruled that the 216-home proposal cannot be looked at in isolation – it must be assessed alongside the wider strategic allocation, including a 460-home site and a 600-home scheme also promoted by Persimmon in the same corridor.

Save Gowerton from Gridlock, the community group led by Carl Jones which has fought the development for years, described the ruling as incredible news. The group said the inspector’s acceptance of what they call the “salami-slicing” argument – the practice of breaking a large strategic site into separate applications to avoid cumulative scrutiny – was a “massive victory.”

The ruling also found there was “insufficient certainty” that pollution and nutrient levels in the Burry Inlet could be mitigated, triggering what campaigners describe as the precautionary principle – meaning the law now demands the highest level of environmental scrutiny before any decision can be made.

Persimmon Homes now have 21 days to decide their next move. They can accept the ruling and commission the full Environmental Impact Assessment – a process expected to take between six and twelve months and involving expensive, large-scale environmental studies covering traffic, flood risk, pollution and ecological impact. Alternatively, if they refuse to provide the required report, the inspector can effectively dismiss the appeal entirely.

Save Gowerton from Gridlock say they have already contacted PEDW to ensure the group is formally consulted on the scoping of the new studies, giving them the opportunity to ensure that every traffic bottleneck and flood risk is included in the environmental workload.

The Fairwood Terrace site has been at the centre of one of Swansea’s most fiercely contested planning disputes. Plans were first drawn up in 2022, when Persimmon proposed around 230 homes on land between the River Llan and the railway line beside Gowerton station. The scheme also included a new station forecourt with a potential park-and-ride, a bus-only link eastward toward Waunarlwydd, upgraded traffic lights at Fairwood Terrace’s junction with Victoria Road, and a walking and cycling connection through to the neighbouring development site.

The proposal attracted nearly 900 objection letters and a 300-signature petition from residents who feared it would overwhelm already-congested junctions, increase flood risk and damage the character of the village. Swansea Council rejected the scheme on traffic grounds in 2024, despite planning officers advising that refusal would be difficult to defend at appeal. Persimmon subsequently appealed to the Welsh Government, and the case has been with PEDW ever since.

The Fairwood Terrace story so far

December 2022 – Persimmon first drew up plans for 230 homes at Fairwood Terrace, beside Gowerton station, as part of the Waunarlwydd North LDP allocation.

2024 – Swansea Council refused the application on traffic grounds despite officer support for approval, after nearly 900 objection letters and a 300-signature petition from local residents.

October 2025 – Persimmon unveiled a separate 600-home scheme south of the A484, directly opposite Bellway’s Parc Mawr development in Penllergaer, designed to link via an active travel route into Fairwood Terrace – raising fears of a continuous ribbon of housing along the entire A484 corridor.

April 2026 – Barratt and David Wilson Homes submitted a planning application for 430 homes on the Fforestfach/Waunarlwydd site – part of the same wider 716-home strategic allocation – further intensifying pressure on the corridor.

April 2026 – Welsh Government inspector rules the 216-home appeal must undergo a full Environmental Impact Assessment, accepting the “salami-slicing” argument. Persimmon now have 21 days to decide whether to commission the studies or walk away.

The backdrop to the dispute is a proposed continuous ribbon of housing stretching from Penllergaer through Gorseinon, Waunarlwydd and Gowerton along the A484. Persimmon’s separate 600-home scheme sits directly opposite Bellway’s Parc Mawr development in Penllergaer, designed to connect via an active travel route westward into Fairwood Terrace. Further along the same wider 716-home strategic allocation, Barratt and David Wilson Homes have now submitted a full planning application for 430 homes at Fforestfach.

If all the schemes along the corridor proceed, close to 3,000 new homes would be built in a continuous stretch – an amount campaigners say amounts to a new town stitched together along the A484. Today’s ruling that the Fairwood Terrace appeal must be assessed alongside those neighbouring sites is precisely the argument Save Gowerton from Gridlock has been making since the campaign began.

In February, Cllr Dai Jenkins told residents the fight was far from over as the appeal process stretched weeks beyond its original timetable. Jenkins had been pressing PEDW and Natural Resources Wales not to grant further extensions to Persimmon while the developer still owed information on nutrient neutrality and flood risk, and had called for a face-to-face hearing rather than a virtual process.

A montage showing the Fairwood Terrace and Victoria Road junction in Gowerton, with Cllr Dai Jenkins pictured in an inset as he updates residents on the ongoing planning appeal.
(Images: Google Maps / Dai Jenkins)

Today’s ruling vindicates that position. The inspector has accepted that the cumulative impact of the Fairwood Terrace scheme alongside the 460-home and 600-home sites must be formally assessed, and that the environmental uncertainty around the Burry Inlet is too significant to be set aside.

Carl Jones said the group had not yet won the war but had won a “massive battle.” He added that campaigners would continue to monitor the 21-day window closely and push for full consultation rights over whatever environmental studies Persimmon choose to commission, to ensure that every traffic pinchpoint, flood risk and pollution concern is properly included in the scope.

The decision is likely to be studied closely by communities facing similar large-scale planning applications across Swansea and the wider region, where cumulative development pressure along key arterial routes has been a recurring flashpoint.

More updates will follow as the 21-day deadline approaches.

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How Persimmon’s linked schemes could create close to 3,000 homes along the A484 corridor.

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Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ 430-home application on the wider Waunarlwydd North strategic allocation.

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SWANSEA: 1930s Art Deco hotel wins approval to double its bedrooms and target 4-star rating — despite row over unauthorised excavation near historic Quaker burial ground

Plans to transform one of Swansea city centre’s most prominent historic hotels have been approved, with the Grand Hotel on Ivy Place set to more than double its bedrooms from 53 to 106 as part of a major expansion aimed at achieving a 4-star rating.

Swansea Council’s planning committee approved the scheme on Tuesday afternoon — but not without noting a significant controversy over excavation work carried out without planning permission at a site adjoining a historic Quaker burial ground.

The Grand Hotel, a four-storey Art Deco building constructed in the 1930s, sits directly opposite Swansea railway station and is described in planning documents as one of the first landmarks visible to visitors arriving in the city by train. The applicant is Mr Con Maloney.

The High Street elevation of the approved scheme, showing the distinctive living green wall covering the new rear extension alongside the original hotel building Credit: Lawray Architects / Grand Hotel Swansea

Swansea Bay News first reported on the Grand Hotel plans last October, when an earlier version of the scheme received planning permission for 42 additional bedrooms. The applicant returned with an amended scheme adding a further floor — taking the additional rooms from 42 to 57 — after steel design costs came in significantly higher than originally budgeted.

The revised scheme, designed by Lawray Architects (application reference 2025/2514/FUL), will add rooms across six floors: 8 bedrooms on each of the first and second floors, 13 on each of the third, fourth and fifth floors, and two further rooms alongside a bar and lounge on the rooftop level. A new basement cellar, a gym for hotel guests, additional lifts and a reconfigured and enlarged ground-floor function room are also included.

However, the committee report noted that the applicant had already excavated a basement without planning permission, and without the archaeological watching brief required under conditions attached to the original consent. The hotel site adjoins the former Quaker Meeting House — built in 1807 — and its associated burial ground, and during excavation a human inhumation from the Quaker burial ground was discovered.

The council’s archaeological consultants Heneb (Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust) said it was “reasonable to conclude” that further archaeological deposits including human remains may have been damaged or destroyed during the unmonitored work. The committee report stated the failure to undertake proper archaeological mitigation “is regrettable and not condoned” and weighed against the application. However, the committee approved the scheme on the basis that the regeneration benefits for High Street outweighed the identified archaeological harm.

A new condition has been attached requiring a full written scheme of historic environment mitigation to be submitted before any further development takes place.

The historic 1930s Art Deco façade facing the railway station will be preserved and enhanced, with new upper floors set back behind the main building line. One of the most distinctive design features is a living green wall on the west elevation facing High Street — a modular vertical garden system that will support biodiversity, reduce noise pollution and improve air quality. Dark aluminium cladding originally proposed for the rooftop extension was changed to a lighter grey zinc cladding following visual testing.

The new upper floors use a mansard roof design, with dormer windows and Juliet balconies throughout the upper levels and large openings at roof level for city views from the bar and lounge. Bird boxes and bat boxes will be installed within a month of the development’s completion as part of the scheme’s ecological enhancement commitments.

All consultees — including Natural Resources Wales, Highways, Drainage and Welsh Water — raised no objection to the scheme. No objections were received from neighbouring properties during the pre-application consultation process.

The committee report describes the High Street area as being in “major need of regeneration” and notes the hotel expansion could act as a catalyst for wider investment. The scheme falls within a Strategic Development Area under Swansea’s Local Development Plan, which specifically identifies High Street as a priority area for regeneration linking the railway station to the retail centre.

Construction will be restricted to 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

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SWANSEA: British Art Show 10 confirmed for Glynn Vivian next year — the only Welsh stop on a national tour featuring artists from Tracey Emin to Grayson Perry

Swansea has been confirmed as the only Welsh stop on the British Art Show 10 national tour, with the exhibition — described as the largest and most significant recurring contemporary art show in the UK — coming to the city from February 12 to May 16, 2027.

British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers, developed and produced by Hayward Gallery Touring as part of Southbank Centre, will launch in Coventry in October 2026 before visiting Swansea, Bristol, Sheffield and Newcastle-Gateshead.

Swansea Bay News first reported on Swansea’s selection as a host city last August. The full details of the exhibition — including its title, themes and venues — have now been confirmed.

The exhibition will be based at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and will also take in the new home for Elysium Gallery on Belle Vue Way, with plans for a presence at Y Storfa in the city centre subject to confirmation.

It will span a wide range of media — including painting, sculpture, ceramics, film, sound and installation — and will explore three themes: Moments of Being, Ways of Living, and States of Nature.

Over the last four decades the British Art Show has brought some of Britain’s best-known contemporary artists to cities across the UK, including Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry, David Hockney and Lucian Freud. The tenth edition will be curated by Ekow Eshun.

Alex Margo Arden, Accounts, 2025 Credit: © the artist. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre London

Hannah Quinlan & Rosie Hastings, A Day’s Work, 2025 Credit: Courtesy the Artist and Arcadia Missa, London. Photography: Tom CarterNengi Omuku, One Particular Man, 2026 Credit: Courtesy of the artist and Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London

Tracey McNulty, Swansea Council’s head of cultural services, said Swansea’s selection reflected the strength of the city’s cultural offer. “We are grateful for the enduring partnership with Hayward Touring and for the support received from Arts Council Wales, which has helped make this happen, not just for Swansea but for the nation,” she said.

Karen MacKinnon, curator at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, said the gallery was excited about the opportunity to work on a major multi-venue national project. “Curator Ekow Eshun will be bringing together an incredible range of artists from across the UK, and this exhibition will create new opportunities for local artists and a lasting creative legacy for Swansea,” she said.

“Glynn Vivian has a longstanding relationship with Hayward Gallery Touring and we very much look forward to working with them on this major exhibition.”

Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales, said the exhibition would raise the profile of Swansea’s arts scene. “The British Art Show provides an excellent opportunity to showcase what Swansea has to offer in terms of its vibrant art scene, raises awareness and increases opportunities for the artistic community, and best of all will bring people into the city to enjoy an exciting cultural offer,” he said.

The exhibition is supported by Swansea Council and Arts Council Wales. Alongside the main show, a programme of workshops, talks, tours and events will run throughout the Swansea leg of the tour.

The full British Art Show 10 tour schedule is: Coventry, October 2 2026 to January 10 2027; Swansea, February 12 to May 16 2027; Bristol, June 19 to September 19 2027; Sheffield, October 23 2027 to February 20 2028; Newcastle-Gateshead, March 24 to June 18 2028.

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SWANSEA: Trading Standards secures conviction against company issuing fraudulent HGV medical certificates

A director whose company issued fraudulent medical certificates as part of HGV licence applications has been convicted following a years-long investigation by Swansea Council Trading Standards.

Andrew Eburne, 51, of Hill Rise, Burbage, Hinckley, was found guilty of operating a fraudulent business through his company Doctors on Wheels Ltd, which provided D4 medical certificates — a legal requirement for anyone applying for an HGV licence.

The investigation was triggered by concerns raised by the DVLA, which had spotted anomalies in certificates being submitted as part of HGV licence applications. Swansea Council Trading Standards worked alongside investigators from across the UK to build the case.

A D4 medical certificate confirms that a driver is physically and mentally fit to operate a heavy goods vehicle. It must be completed by a qualified medical professional — typically a GP or occupational health doctor — and covers eyesight, blood pressure, neurological conditions and a range of other health factors relevant to driving large vehicles safely.

HGV drivers are required to hold a valid D4 certificate when applying for a Group 2 licence, which covers lorries, buses and other large vehicles. The certificates must be renewed periodically as drivers age, with more frequent renewals required for older drivers.

Fraudulent certificates raise serious road safety concerns. An HGV driver who is unfit to drive but holds a falsely obtained licence poses a significant risk to other road users. The weight and size of heavy goods vehicles means that accidents involving them can have catastrophic consequences.

The fraudulent certificates raised the prospect of unfit drivers obtaining HGV licences, with potential consequences for road safety.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council Trading Standards Team Leader, said the outcome demonstrated the value of close working between agencies. “We were able to show in court that D4 medical certificates were submitted to the DVLA with the intention of them being issued as part of a HGV licence application,” he said.

“Fortunately, due to the expertise shown by the DVLA in spotting these anomalies, along with our own investigation, we prevented this becoming a much more serious issue.”

Harries added that the case underlined the importance of ensuring medical certificates are properly completed by qualified professionals to help keep roads safe.

The DVLA is based in Swansea and is one of the city’s largest employers, responsible for maintaining records on more than 50 million drivers and 40 million vehicles across the UK. The agency’s role in spotting the anomalies that triggered the investigation was described by Trading Standards as central to the successful prosecution.

Anyone with concerns about a business operating unfairly or unlawfully can report it to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

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