Video released to showcase major new Swansea development

A new fly-through video has been released to give people a first detailed look at how a major Swansea city centre development will appear when it opens later this year.

Taking shape at the former BHS unit on Oxford Street, the Y Storfa community services hub will be home to facilities such as a new central library.

Led by Swansea Council with Kier Group as main contractor, the scheme will also include other council-run services such as the contact centre, Housing Options, lifelong learning and the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

Non-council tenants will include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library.

The new fly-through video shows the building’s striking exterior while highlighting its welcoming internal spaces, including the main reception, children’s library, open-plan library, contact centre, meeting rooms, and a modern conference and events space.

There will be accessible lifts to every floor.
Central library at the Civic Centre will close from Monday October 20 to help staff prepare for the relocation to Y Storfa.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “Swansea city centre needs more footfall to support its existing traders and help attract new shops and other businesses in future.

“This is why a £1bn regeneration programme is ongoing, with schemes such as Y Storfa set to combine with many others to attract more people there.

“The new fly-through video shows the scale of what’s to come.
“Y Storfa will be a place where people can come together – to learn, access important services, or take part in community life in a modern and welcoming space.

“By bringing services like the library, archives, Housing Options and others together under one roof, it’ll make life easier for many residents and create opportunities for people of all ages.”

The Y Storfa development is close to car parks, bus stops and cycle routes. An opening date will be announced in the coming weeks, along with information for users of all council services due to relocate there.

Cllr Stewart said: “The opening of the Y Storfa development will enable the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site on the waterfront as Swansea’s regeneration continues at pace.

“Our regeneration partners Urban Splash are continuing to work on proposals for that site, which will be made available for feedback as soon as they’re ready.

“We’ll also continue to keep the public updated in the coming weeks on any information that may affect them as a number of council services prepare for the move from the Civic Centre to Y Storfa.”

Funders of Y Storfa include the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.
Head to www.swansea.gov.uk/ystorfa for more information.