Former department store and office block bought by housing association

A former department store and office block which was saved from demolition has been acquired by a Swansea housing association.Coastal Housing wants to redevelop 7-13 The Kingsway, known as Ty Gwalia, into apartments for social rent.The building, located opposite the Potter’s Wheel pub and next door to the Coppergate student apartment block, was the home of the housing association.It has stood empty since the housing office closed in 2019, when staff were relocated to Swansea Enterprise Park.Previously, the building has served as the House of Kent department store and Evan Rees Butter during its long history and was facing demolition until Coastal stepped in at the eleventh hour to save it from demolition.Coastal’s executive director of operations, Serena Jones, said: “There’s a welcome evolution in our proposals to redevelop 7-13 The Kingsway into social housing.”It will move from being a place where affordable housing was planned and applied for, to being affordable housing itself. I’m pleased that legacy will transform into new social rent homes for the local community.”