We have requested Swansea council chief Rob Stewart your questions concerning the £1bn regeneration scheme and that is what he needed to say
It has been over a decade since Rob Stewart took helm of the Swansea Council as its chief with Labour has retaining the management of the town council since 2014, and Cllr Stewart the main target has been on making a “metropolis that individuals had confidence in.”
That is being finished by the council’s bold £1bn regeneration scheme that goals to rejuvenate the town by a sequence of tasks funded by a mixture of private and non-private cash with some main tasks already deliverd.
WalesOnline just lately advised you about these accomplished tasks and we all know you had lots of questions. We’ve now put them throughout to Swansea Council Chief Rob Stewart.
However first, a phrase on why Cllr Stewart thinks the town wanted the regeneration scheme.
“I believe once I took over as chief I set out a really clear imaginative and prescient of what we wanted to do. We have been a metropolis that had misplaced lots of investor confidence,” he mentioned. “We had seen fairly a major decline in folks investing within the metropolis. We did not have lots of properties, we did not have the form of surroundings that we wanted.
He adde that although 2014 was previous to the pandemic and the issues that adopted, “It was very clear that if we have been to create a metropolis that individuals had confidence in, that would compete within the twenty first century, we needed to change what the town centre provided.”
Delays in council tasks
Although the council has delivered a number of tasks, some have skilled delays, essentially the most publicised of those, is the multi storey automobile park by the Swansea Area which was speculated to be accomplished across the similar time as the sector itself.
Cllr Stewart has defined that the delay has primarily arisen due the challenge’s unique contractors, the Buckingham group going into administration, including that the council hopes to open the automobile park by the top of the yr.
“To be actually clear on why that is been so difficult, when an organization goes into administration, clearly that entity ceases to be,” he mentioned. “We then need to take care of the directors and now we have to then undergo and look what works had Buckingham finished, what works stay to be finished.”
He defined that the brand new contractor then needed to test the positioning to make sure that work finished by previous contractor was to proper normal as they must present the council a assure on the constructing upon completion.
The councillor added that withdrawing the funds from the safe escrow account they have been in to finance remainder of the work additionally concerned a prolonged administrative course of witht directors. Nevertheless, the council is now assured that cash is safe.
The automobile park’s supply was additionally delayed attributable to points with paintwork coating system which was utilized to metal.
“On the perimeters of the automobile park there are ornamental fins. These are what give a shimmering impact when the solar hits them,” Cllr Stewart mentioned.
“When Buckingham went into administration a few of these fins needed to be laid on the bottom for a time frame and a few of them had been put in however weren’t accomplished,” he added
The coucil chief defined that these had re-stripped and repainted to make sure they’ve a guaranty.
Nevertheless, the automobile park shouldn’t be the one challenge that has confronted delays. The 71/72 Kingsway Workplaces developed by the Swansea Council and partly funded by each the UK and Welsh Authorities additionally noticed its sensible completion date pushed again.
The challenge, touted to deal with 600 jobs is now full, and three tenants have already been introduced. The council chief insists that the delays have been as a result of the council requested the contractors for extra work to be finished with the challenge.
“Sure, the opening date towards the unique date for Kingsway 71/72 is about 10-12 months later than it was initially going to be,” Cllr Stewart mentioned. “Nevertheless, that’s concerning the completion date of the constructing.
“So what’s being combined up there, there is a sensible completion date, so that is the date at which the contractor, palms over the constructing to the council, in order that we are able to then begin bringing tenants in. What occurred was once they have been constructing there have been some electrical cables that wanted to be upgraded as a part of that. So we elevated the scope of the work.
“In order that meant we requested them to do extra, and that meant it took them a bit longer however once more all tasks have challenges once they undergo them and nothing ever goes precisely to the plan that you simply begin with.”
Making certain tasks ship on time
The council chief has burdened that Swansea Council is holding the contractors to account for the supply dates of challenge.
“We do maintain the contractors to account and clearly there are contractual penalties in there that we are going to have utilized, as an example, to the automobile park,” Cllr Stewart mentioned.
“So a part of the cash that the council will obtain might be by delays, misplaced earnings from the automobile parking expenses that will have utilized if the carpark had operated. So there are contractual penalties in there for being late.”
Nevertheless, he mentioned that the case is totally different for tasks the place the council asks the contractors to do further work, including that some delays have additionally stemmed from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I believe the purpose that you have to at all times consider is that these are multi-year tasks,” Cllr Stewart mentioned stressing that these tasks have been envisioned in 2017 and needed to go throuhg design, planning, consultations earlier than being opened in about six-seven years.
“That six-seven years spanned the Covid pandemic for 2 years” he mentioned “We have all, I suppose, forgotten how tough it was throughout that point the place you could not do lots of issues the place folks have been pressured to remain at house, the place you could not construct as quick and in the best way that you simply in any other case would have.”
The way forward for the Debenhams constructing
The repurposing of the previous Debenhams constructing that shut down in 2021 leaving a gap in Swansea’s Quadrant purchasing middle and has additionally been the topic of delays.
Securing a tenant for the Debenhams constructing was among the many priorities of the Labour led Swansea Council when the social gathering got here again to energy in Could 2022.
Although it was introduced in Could 2025, that three tenants for the Debenhams constructing have been discovered, Cllr Stewart mentioned he’s “completely annoyed” about not having the ability to announce who they’re.
“The dedication for the primary hundred days was to progress the Debenhams constructing,” he mentioned. “I can not lawfully announce the tenants till they provide me permission to take action.
“So I’ve identified who the tenants are for over six months, and I’m completely annoyed that I can not publicly say who they’re and there is a motive for that’s as a result of these are large multinational firms. They’re eager to make it possible for once they announce a gap, they’ve all of the legals right.”
“I am hoping that they’re going to be introduced within the subsequent few weeks, that’s the plan, however I’ve to have permission from the manufacturers to announce them because the tenants,” he added whereas saying if he publicizes the names earlier, they may resolve towards coming.
The way forward for Kilvey Hill
A council challenge that has been the topic of a major controversy is the multi-million pound Kilvey Hill Skyline challenge.
Regardless of opposition Swansea Council’s planning committe gave the accepted to the challenge led by New Zealand primarily based Skyline Enterprises in March this yr.
Skyline’s planning software drew in 560 letters of objection with solely 40 letters of help and we requested the council chief, why the challenge was transferring forward regardless of such opposition.
“Nicely, it is easy. The explanation that we’re continuing is due to the broader financial profit to Swansea,” Cllr Stewart mentioned. “Now, having appeared on the entire form of campaigns that have been finished through the planning levels, I absolutely respect that there might be some individuals who don’t wish to see any growth anyplace, not to mention on Kilvey Hill.”
He burdened that the opposition is coming from a “very small core group of individuals”, stresing that extra companies is not going to come to Swansea until extra guests are available in and never going forward with the challenge would show detrimental to current companies.
“If we did that, it could possible make Penderyn Whiskey a lot much less sustainable. It could possible undermine the funding that we’re prone to see within the River Hall,” Cllr Stewart mentioned, noting that retailers and leisure operators have advised him although customer numbers in Swansea are enhancing they should larger.
He argued that the town wants extra sights like the journey park that draw folks in, and hopes that when in folks keep and discover Gower, and different sights as nicely.
Although the Skyline Enterprises tasks 466,200 customer — issues have been raised that the journey park might turn into one time vacation spot seeing guests dwindle over time.
Cllr Stewart has mentioned folks must refere at Skyline’s customer quantity on the parks they’ve already made, saying: “Their customer numbers, the place they’ve opened their new parks, have exceeded expectations.
“These numbers are ones which can be plugged into the Welsh authorities’s enterprise case, as a result of clearly Welsh authorities are supporting the inward funding from Skyline and once more, I might say they’re conservative numbers, not numbers which can be inflated.”
He agrued: “The place is the proof folks will solely do one thing as soon as? I believe that could be a assertion I might problem. You could possibly say that about any leisure attraction, however I don’t assume that holds water and truly, folks come again to Swansea and Gower yr on yr. We have got a tourism economic system already now, £680 million.”
He added that individuals objecting to the challenge are basing their issues on “incorrect info”, and that the attraction as soon as opened will improve the entry to Kilvey Hill.
“There was speak of tons of of hundreds of tonnes of concrete being laid on Kilvay Hill, unfaithful,” Cllr Stewart mentioned. “There was speak of no entry to Kilvey Hill for the general public, unfaithful. There was discuss harm to the ecology, unfaithful, that is proved now within the planning papers.”
Jobs below £1.3bn Swansea Bay Metropolis Deal
A serious driving issue behind the £1bn, and the broader £1.3bn Swansea bay Metropolis deal is to create jobs throughout South West Wales. The deal signed in 2017 goals to ship over 9,000 jobs within the area by a complete of 9 programmes 36 tasks.
The deal is now in its seventh yr, and to date solely 896 jobs have been created..
We requested the council chief how hole might be fill and what number of jobs might be coming to Swansea.
Cllr Stewart mentioned that the primary few years of a metropolis deal are focussed on approval, feasibility and planning of the tasks, including {that a} majority of tasks uder this metropolis deal are in supply section, a quantity he says is larger than any metropolis deal in Wales.
He mentioned that of the roles already created, a majority are primarily based out of Swansea, explaining that progress in metropolis offers follows a ‘J’ curve.
“So if you signal the deal, you’ve got very flat and then you definitely go rise staggerly and then you definitely rise in a short time as a result of as these 36 tasks really ship the buildings, the infrastructure, the know-how, the roles instantly come on prime of them.”
“So we’re assured that the 9,000 jobs will be achieved. Actually, we’re hoping to exceed it,” he added whereas stressing the deal “is about the place we thought we might be when it comes to job procuration.”
He emphasised the objective is to create “well-paid native” jobs in rising sectors. Citing Palace Theatre which homes tramshed tech, he mentioned: “That is absolute proof, that if we create the best issues, the roles come right here.”
The town’s plan to take care of the housing disaster
The rise in homelessness can also be a difficulty that comes up repeatedly in Swansea.
A September 2024 report confirmed simply how extreme it was noting 270 folks —together with households— have been in mattress and breakfasts with beneath 4,500 folks presenting to the council as being liable to homelessness in 2023.
A £2m overspend on momentary accomodation is predicted in Swansea for 2024-25 — which is claimed to be not sustainable financially.
Cllr Stewart says that the issue presents a “complicated image” and nationwide image explaining the council’s woes with housing hint again to the Thatcher administration’s Proper To Purchase coverage.
He mentioned the best way the coverage labored meant that it pressured councils promote properties that they had constructed to deal with folks, whereas the cash from sale went to the UK authorities’s treasury in London leaving councils with out assets to interchange the homes.
“So we misplaced over 4,000 properties since 1980 now we have got a ready checklist in the intervening time of about between 6000-8000 folks relying on which sectors you take a look at,” he mentioned. “And what number of properties would we have to home these folks? About 4,500.”
He calls this a direct results of the “disastrous coverage.”
The council chief admitted that although the council is constructing “tons of” of properties in Swansea, demand outpaces the provision.
“When it comes to homelessness we’re about to open a lodging within the previous police station in Swansea. That may present a lot better lodging for folks,” Cllr Stewart mentioned. “We’re speaking to the Welsh Authorities about buying fairly a big lodging block within the metropolis centre as nicely, to create extra capability in order that we are able to take folks out of the B&Bs that they have been in and get them into extra appropriate lodging.”
Nevertheless, he added that the scenario for momentary lodging is exacerbated as one other native authority makes use of mattress and breakfasts in Swansea — reducing the variety of locations accessible.
“I might say as nicely, a few of the people who find themselves homeless who’re presently in Swansea aren’t Swansea Council’s homeless folks, they’re positioned right here by Neath Port Talbot Council,” Cllr Stewart mentioned. ”We have had discussions with Neath Port Talbot Council concerning the appropriateness of that, when it comes to taking care of their very own folks as a result of it is taking over rooms or beds that we might use to assist folks get again into a house.
He defined the this began throughout covid, and although non-public B&B can take a reserving from whoever they need, he mentioned “we really feel it is extra acceptable that individuals are primarily based in their very own locality.”
Cllr Stewart added that hire in Swansea will stay among the many lowest in Wales whilst extra folks come into Swansea, and that the council’s planning insurance policies guarantee builders “ship a major proportion” of inexpensive housing as a part of any growth.
The price of Swansea’s regneration and council debt
Swansea huge regeneration drive comes at a value. As per knowledge launched in January 2024, In Wales, Swansea Council is second solely to Cardiff when it comes to debt at £693.8m and is the primary with regards to debt per individual at £2,917.
Although there isn’t a suggestion that the town council is in any monetary bother, issues have been raised throughout the council about its debt by the oppostion however Cllr Stewart says that the council borrowing is one thing that native authorities do “on a regular basis,” and that council would not be capable of essential issues like constructing faculties with out it.
“What we selected to do in 2019, which is why we’re presently wanting like we’re fairly excessive when it comes to debt, was to go and borrow £250 million,” he mentioned “However we borrowed it at 1.96%, and for those who’ve finished a mortgage or a mortgage, you’ll know it is not what you borrow solely, it is how a lot they will cost you for the borrowing.”
Stressing that the price of borrowing is extra vital that total debt, he mentioned: “What we have been doing over the past 10 years is setting apart cash to repay historic borrowing. So the borrowing that was taken out by earlier administrations since 1951,” he mentioned.
“However the borrowing that we have been setting apart cash to pay again is at six p.c, seven p.c, eight p.c and we have been changing it with borrowing at just below two p.c.
“So in essence, when it comes to the fee to the authority and to the taxpayer, we borrowed the 200 million without cost as a result of we changed the very costly debt with cheaper debt.”
He additional reassured folks within the metropolis that the debt doesn’t translate to hassle for the council, including: “In our current analysis by the auditors, Swansea is essentially the most strong and has the best liquidity of any council.
Swansea in 2030
The regneration, shouldn’t be full, and Cllr Stewart has even grander plans for Swansea. Upcoming developments embrace:
- Opening of British House Retailer’s central library by November
- Finishing Fortress Gardens by the of 2026
- Work beginning on the brand new public sector hub earlier than 2026 finish, and completion by 2027
- Constructing of two new ‘instructional blocks’, extra particulars to be introduced quickly
- Beginning building on the brand new lodge by the sector, which the coucillor says will home a nationwide tenant
- A renewed metropolis centre with first components of the challenge being activated by 2027-28
Moreover, by 2030, he hopes that
Sharing his imaginative and prescient for Swansea in 2030, he mentioned: “By 2030 the vast majority of what I’ve mentioned to you there might be nicely below manner or accomplished, in order that might be actually spectacular.”
Moreover he hopes that the Skyline journey park is full and that the individuals who thought they might be excluded from the hill “nonetheless having the ability to entry 99% of the hill.”
He additionally hopes that different long run tasks just like the River Hall, river taxi to finish and for the primary railway stations as a part of the metro begin their building.
