Contractor appointed on first phase of £120m Swansea scheme

A principal contractor has been appointed on the first phase of the £120m Swansea Central scheme.Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd has been appointed by Swansea Council under a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) for the project.The project will bring a 3,500-capacity digital indoor arena, a coastal park, digital plaza, landmark pedestrian bridge and new car parking, alongside homes and premises for retail, food and drink.Over six months, Buckingham will undertake pre-construction services including detailed design, costings and essential preparatory work on the city centre site.The early work will prepare the project and site for the main build phase due to start in late summer this year.The project, which is expected to be part-funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal, is due to be completed in 2021.Buckingham is an owner-managed business dating back to 1955 and formally incorporated in 1987. Previous work includes the design and construction of the £34m Copper Box London 2012 Olympic Handball Arena, the design and build of the £89m Premier League American Express Community Stadium for Brighton and Hove Albion FC and the design and build of Cardiff City Stadium’s £10m East Stand expansion.The Swansea work over the next six months will take place on the ground-level car park next to the LC leisure centre and – on the opposite side of the main Oystermouth Road – in the ground-level temporary St Mary’s Car Park.The council is working with development manager Rivington Land on Swansea Central. The architect is ACME, an international practice.Local businesses will be able to attend a meet the buyer event next month to understand what type of work will be available as Swansea Central Phase One is built.