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Business News Wales
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Business Leaders Welcome New City Centre Office Scheme in Swansea
Two Swansea business leaders have given the thumbs-up to a new office development which has recently been officially opened in the city centre. Adam Gibbons and Carwyn Davies say the 71/72 Kingsway scheme will complement others to create more city centre footfall and spending while also meeting the need for more high-quality office accommodation in Swansea. Three tenants have already been named for the development – financial company Futures First, flexible workspace provider IWG, and travel and leisure company TUI. Tenant fitouts will now take place at the development ahead of staff moving in. Developed by Swansea Council, the 104,000 square foot scheme is being part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal and the Welsh Government through its Transforming Towns programme. Set to accommodate up to 600 jobs, the development is estimated to be worth £32.6 million a year to Swansea's economy. It is anticipated the scheme will be 100% let in the coming months as advanced discussions continue for all its remaining space. Adam Gibbons, Estates Manager at Centurion, owners of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: 'The shift to online shopping means it's now harder than ever for retailers to attract the kind of numbers they need in-store to thrive, so schemes like this that create more city centre footfall and spending are to be welcomed. 'As well as helping support our existing businesses, the extra footfall means there's more chance of attracting other shops and businesses to Swansea city centre in future to help boost the offer that's already here.' Carwyn Davies is the Managing Director of Hacer Developments – the company which is constructing the new 'living building' development close to the 71/72 Kingsway scheme. Made up of the former Woolworths unit and a new 12-storey tower, the scheme – once complete later this year – will include an educational facility, residential apartments, shops, offices, and a courtyard. It will also include living walls and roofs, along with rooftop solar panels, battery storage and gardens. Carwyn said: 'The combination of our scheme with 71/72 Kingsway and other developments either complete, ongoing or planned for Swansea shows the public and private sectors are working more closely together than ever before with a shared goal of making the city centre more vibrant. 'This will lead to thousands more people living and working in the city centre, helping to create employment, protect jobs, support business, attract new investment and position Swansea as a leading city for innovation. 'Having quality office space also gives businesses the facilities they need to further invest in Swansea and grow.' The 71/72 Kingsway scheme also includes an event hall and spaces for food and beverage businesses. A green rooftop terrace with views over Swansea Bay also features, along with solar panels on top of the building and heat recovery systems to minimise energy use.
Wales Online
04-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Posh new office building finally opens in Swansea years after work started
Posh new office building finally opens in Swansea years after work started The new building is expected to be fully let in the upcoming months Work started on the building in 2021, and it is now finally complete (Image: Swansea Council ) A major Swansea Council scheme poised to accommodate up 600 jobs has finally been launched with a new tenant announced. The posh new offices at 71/72 Kingsway have officially opened, as talks continue with other companies to secure additional tenants. The new office blocks, were developed by the Swansea Council and partly funded through the Swansea Bay City deal. The new offices span over 104,000 square feet, and two tenants had already been announced earlier this year by the Swansea Council. Futures First, a financial company, have now been announced as the third tenant for the office building. It is poised to accomodate 600 jobs (Image: Swansea Council ) This followed the council's announcement earlier this year that flexible workspace provider IWG and travel and leisure company TUI were the first two tenants of 71/72 Kingsway. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here The company Futures First will be taking over 4,300 square feet of office space, while IWG will take up around 20,000 square feet of the development, with TUI taking up nearly 7,000 square feet. Article continues below Following this announcement, tenant fitouts will start taking place at the office block before staff starts moving in. The council is in 'advanced discussions' for the remaining space at the development – some 72,700 square feet – and it is expected that the site will be 100% let in upcoming months. Alison Hopkins, Hannah Pickard and Vicki Frankcom from Futures First (Image: Swansea Council ) Ryan Orton, senior vice president at Future First, said: 'We're thrilled to be part of the 71/72 Kingsway development. This state-of-the-art facility perfectly aligns with our commitment to innovation and represents the future of business in Swansea. 'The building's modern infrastructure and prime location will significantly enhance our team's productivity while providing a collaborative workspace that will boost our operations. 'Developments like this demonstrate Swansea's growing reputation as a hub for forward-thinking businesses, and we're excited to grow alongside this dynamic city while contributing to its economic growth.' Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader, said: 'Swansea has suffered from a lack of high-quality office accommodation in recent years, which had led to a risk of businesses and local jobs moving or setting up elsewhere. 'The 71/72 Kingsway development will help stop that from happening while giving businesses there the opportunity to collaborate, network, grow and create even more employment opportunities for local people. 'We're delighted to have secured another tenant for the building as detailed talks continue with other companies for the remaining spaces there.' Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council's cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: 'We know local people want more shops and a more thriving city centre, but this will only happen if there's enough footfall there to attract those kinds of businesses, given the challenges of online shopping. 'The 71/72 Kingsway development will combine with many other schemes either complete, under construction or planned to get thousands more people working and living in the city centre, helping to support our existing traders while encouraging others to set up there in future. 'The scheme is part of a regeneration programme worth over £1bn that's unfolding to create a modern, vibrant city centre that meets local people's needs and aspirations.' Article continues below The council expects the building to be completly let in the upcoming months (Image: Swansea Council )
