With the first phase now complete, work has commenced on the next stage of Coastal Housing Group’s £25m Urban Village.
The second phase of the development will see the old warehouse on King’s Lane transformed into four floors of prime commercial space with work expected to last until December 2014.
Built around 1888-89 the warehouse was used by Down and Son as a manufactory. Later their showrooms were expanded into it from their shop at 221 High Street where they produced and sold furniture.
Ian Couzens, Coastal Housing Group’s interim director of development, said, “It is an exciting time as we enter the next phase of the development and work begins on the restoration of the Kings Lane warehouse.
“It is important to retain some of the area’s historical identity and by renovating and refitting King’s Lane warehouse we are looking to keep a glimpse of Swansea’s past whilst also bringing it up-to-date and making it usable for today’s business needs.”
Cardiff-based developer R&M Williams are carrying out the work. Darryn Parry, Managing Director at R&M Williams, said, “We are delighted to be engaged by Coastal Housing to complete the final stages of this exciting project which will transform a unique part of Swansea’s historical past into a vibrant hub for both creative industries and starter business.”
The Urban Village is Coastal’s flagship scheme for the regeneration of Swansea’s High Street and comprises 76 flats for social rent and five floors of office and retail space, home to the South Wales Evening Post, Mosaic bar and bistro, ‘Tickled’ children’s hairdresser, The Raspberry Cakery, Indycube and over 100 of Coastal Housing’s Swansea based staff.
Once complete it is hoped the Urban Village will help make High Street a vibrant place for people to live and work and bring much needed economic benefit to the city centre.
“We are delighted with how the development is progressing. Centred on building thriving communities in the city to enable people to work and live affordably the Urban Village is already helping to regenerate High Street by attracting new businesses and much needed footfall to the area,” said Ian.
Work on the Creative Cluster, Wales’ first dedicated work space for commercial creative industries, will begin later in the year once planning has been finalised.
With 30,000 sq ft of commercial and office space situated over five floors, the Creative Cluster will provide a hub for small start-ups and creative companies, as well as space for performing arts.
“The establishment of more modern and affordable office space in the city centre will prove useful for business growth and a dedicated workspace for the creative industry will only add to Swansea’s already growing creative landscape,” Ian continued.
