Mumbles Pier
Details of a multi-million pound facelift of Mumbles pier will be unveiled this week.
The proposals are the result of five years of planning by the owners of the Victorian pier, Ameco, who first announced their ambitious plans to develop the area last year.
The plans include the creation of a hotel, restaurants and apartments, which Ameco says could bring hundreds of jobs to the area.
It would also see restoration of the grade two listed pier, which is likely to cost around £3 million, and the creation of boardwalks, cafes, and a leisure and family entertainment centre.
The plans, to be revealed at an exhibition at the former Cinderella's nightclub this weekend, come in advance of a comprehensive planning application due at the end of this month.
Ameco managing director John Bollom said: "I am delighted that we have finally reached this key stage but it has to be said that giving the past a future has turned out to be quite a challenge."We are attempting to restore an iconic part of Swansea's heritage without a penny from the public purse, and against the backdrop of a global economic recession that is still affecting investment.
"Over the years, we looked at how we could find a cost-effective method of rebuilding the pier. Sadly, privately owned piers do not qualify for heritage funding and the local authority has other restoration priorities such as Oystermouth Castle.
"We therefore had to find a privately-funded solution to generate £3 million for replacement costs and when the Swansea Bay Action Plan was published in 2007, we saw it as a marvellous opportunity to blend our restoration plans with public sector ambitions to boost regional tourism."
The upgrade of the 112-year-old pier will also accommodate RNLI proposals to build a modern lifeboat house for Mumbles, capable of launching their new Tamar class vessel, which is due to become operational before 2015.
Ameco says it has already spent up to £500,000 on its application for the £39 million project, including funding environmental, ecological and marine assessments. It claims the development could bring an estimated £18 million a year, particularly with employment and leisure services.
A public consultation exercise over the initial plans revealed 95 per cent support, they said, with support from Gower AM Edwina Hart and Martin Caton MP, and Mumbles Community Council and the local development trust backing the principle of regeneration.
Oystermouth councillor Anthony Colburn said: "Additional accommodation in and around Gower is needed if tourism is to be expanded.
"At present Mumbles Pier is in a very bad state of repair and the development will allow for its refurbishment. I haven't seen the full plans yet, but I understand it is a high quality development. If and when the hotel is build it could mean a lot of jobs for the area.
"It shows the confidence in the future of Mumbles, and hopefully will engender further interest."
The exhibition at the Pier Hotel ballroom takes place tomorrow from 10.30am until 6.30pm, and on Saturday from 9.30am until 1.30pm.
Representatives from the development team and the RNLI will be on hand to answer questions.
16th June 2010, South Wales Evening Post.
