Central Swansea hub scheme set for approval

Plans for the development of a new community hub at the former BHS building in Swansea are set to move forward after being recommended for approval.Swansea Council is seeking permision to develop the hub on Oxford Street where it plans to relocate the city’s library and archive, as well as a café, community services, staff offices and flexible co-working space.The upper floors of the 1950s building are largely vacant and it is proposed to redevelop/refurbish the existing property with the conversion of the ground, first and second floors. External alterations include glazed/rainscreen curtain walling, green infrastructure and roof top photovoltaics.The design aims for the the new-look building to have the “impact” appropriate to a public building, with open and active shop frontages to maintain vibrancy to Oxford St and Princess Way.It is planned that cladding will give the building a more consistent look than at present. Translucent cladding could be backlit to act as a beacon to help attract visitors.There are proposals to have a green wall and planting on a roof area.Inside, the library would act as a “spine” and there would be a feature grand central staircase.According to a report set to be scrutinised by councillors later this week, the regeneration of Swansea Central Area is a corporate priority of the council, and the application site forms part of an area that is key to supporting the physical regeneration of the city and “driving economic prosperity across the Swansea Bay City Region”.The application is recommended for approval.Professionals working on the scheme include project and cost management specialist Coreus Group, architects’ firm Austin Smith Lord, mechanical and electrical engineer SDS, structural engineer Jubb and principal designer PHD Property Advisory.