Plans have surfaced to repurpose an empty office block in Swansea city centre, which was once earmarked for demolition to make way for a car park. Housing association Coastal Housing Group, in collaboration with development partner Morganstone, are proposing to transform the former Ty Gwalia building on The Kingsway into a 48-flat development, with an additional two storeys to be added. The potential living space could also include a couple of ground-floor offices, with amenities such as a central atrium, cycle storage with electric charging points, but no on-site car parking. This ambitious project aims to breathe new life into the building, now dubbed Ty Menyn. It’s worth noting that the building has been unoccupied since 2020 and has served various purposes in the past, including being a butter packing factory, a department store, and later converted into offices.
The joint venture by Coastal Housing and Morganstone has submitted a pre-application enquiry to the council, with detailed plans expected to follow, accompanied by transport and design statements for further evaluation. It has been highlighted that some of the proposed flats currently do not meet the council’s minimum internal space requirements due to the structural limitations of the building. Efforts are underway to address this by reconfiguring the internal layout to comply with regulations. Previously, the building’s former owner, Estateways PLC, had obtained consent to demolish the structure, but public opposition questioned the decision, suggesting that the building could be preserved and repurposed instead.
In a positive development last year, Coastal Housing acquired the building with the intention of converting it into affordable housing. This initiative aligns with the ongoing trend of developers converting vacant upper floors in the city into residential spaces, alongside the construction of new office units. As Swansea continues to evolve, the proposal for Ty Menyn signifies a step towards revitalising the city centre and providing much-needed accommodation options. Stay tuned for further updates on this prospective transformation.