Lower Swansea Valley regeneration set to move forward

The proposed multimillion-pound regeneration of key parts of the Lower Swansea Valley is set to progress over the coming months.A series of schemes in the River Tawe Corridor are being worked on by Swansea Council with a view to submitting planning applications soon.The projects are on track due in part to the council securing £20m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up scheme last year.The Lower Swansea Valley project will have a close focus on the site of the former Hafod Morfa CopperworksIf planning permission is granted the forthcoming improvements could include developments such as renovating the main structure of the copperworks’ derelict laboratory building.It could also include rebuilding two canal former bridges plus part of a canal next to Morfa Road and renovating the main structure of the copperworks’ huge rolling mill building and the Vivian and Musgrave engine houses.Improvements could also involve restoring the copperworks’ structurally unstable V&S engine shed, creating two River Tawe pontoons, complementing a first installed last year and bringing new life to railway arches and tunnels in and around The StrandCreating additional exhibition space at Swansea Museum is also proposed.Council leader Rob Stewart said: “These schemes, should planning approval be secured, will help bring new life to the Lower Swansea Valley, bringing new jobs, investment and opportunities for business, leisure and culture.“Swansea’s enjoying a council-driven £1bn regeneration programme and our Tawe corridor project is key to success; it’ll help unlock the huge potential of a once heavily industrialised area that was key to the city’s growth in centuries gone by.“Much work has already gone into this project – with more to come – and we’re now in a position to start submitting planning applications for some key elements. We’ll publicise full details of all the projects in due course.”The council plans to complete the projects in 2025 and 2026. Planning approval is already in place for the laboratory building.