High Street Urban Village courtesy of icreate
A city centre development — hailed as the most important in the past 40 years — has been given a six-figure funding boost.
The Urban Village plan for Swansea's High Street has been awarded £600,000 funding by the Assembly Government's Strategic Regeneration Area programme.
Spearheaded by the Coastal Housing Group, the £7 million development will include retail and office space, community resources, a childcare facility and potential for a creative space.
Chris Holley, Swansea Council leader, said: "This is a massively exciting scheme that will improve the appearance of a gateway into Swansea and attract more investment.
"Plans to improve another key route into the city by developing a continental style-boulevard and making traffic flow smoother from the Tawe bridges to the LC are also making progress and the combination of these schemes will help further raise Swansea's profile.
"It's our objective that Swansea leaves people with positive impressions and these projects will go some way to meeting that aim."
The scheme is part of the larger regeneration picture for the High Street area which includes the revamp of Swansea railway station and Gwalia Housing Association's Llys Glas development.
The Assembly funding will contribute to phase 1b of the overall Urban Village development which includes the retail units, office space and parking access.
Around £300,000 was also provided last year to help with the cost of demolition work.
The overall project also includes a separate residential development for which Coastal Housing Group has received £6.9 million in social housing grant from the Assembly towards the cost of constructing 76 three-bedroom flats on the site. Work on these affordable homes is already underway.
Jocelyn Davies, Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration in Wales, said: "I'm very impressed with the plans for the Urban Village.
"This multi-purpose regeneration project that will benefit both local people and visitors to the city is an excellent example of how our holistic approach to regeneration is paying dividends.
"High Street is the first impression that people arriving in Swansea by train get, so it's important the area is as welcoming and attractive as possible.
"I'm delighted to be announcing this funding which will help Coastal Housing Group improve the appearance of High Street as well as provide much-needed affordable housing in the city."
Debbie Green, of the Coastal Housing Group, added: "We're delighted that, with the help of the Assembly and Swansea Council, our vision for the Urban Village is finally being realised.
"Work on site is progressing well and we look forward to making High Street an attractive destination for the local community and visitors."
29th July 2010, South Wales Evening Post
