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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.
Resolved that the Minutes of the Economy and Infrastructure Service Transformation Committee held on 11 September 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The Principal Regeneration Manager provided a report on the Swansea City Centre Placemaking Plan ‘Future Swansea: A Placemaking Plan for Swansea City centre and its Waterfront’. The Committee noted that a draft Placemaking Plan had been developed for Swansea City Centre to guide regeneration and investment over the next 8–10 years, replacing the 2016 framework and informing the next Local Development Plan. The plan aligned with the Placemaking Wales Charter, which sets out six core principles: community involvement, sustainable locations, prioritising active travel, creating safe public spaces, promoting mixed uses, and respecting local identity. The plan was informed by extensive public and stakeholder engagement. The Plan covered the City Centre from the seafront to Dyfatty junction and included major gateway areas. It was structured around three main elements: city-wide strategies (covering location, movement, mixed uses, public realm, identity and culture, and community), five distinct action areas (central core, city waterfront, tawe waterfront, upper high street) and site-specific interventions. Key proposals included revitalising retail and leisure areas, improving pedestrian connectivity, and enhancing public spaces at strategic locations. A high-level delivery strategy highlighted the need for embedding the plan in Council policy, leveraging Council landholdings, and taking short-term actions such as targeted leasing and marketing. Successful delivery would depend on collaboration, stakeholder support, and securing additional funding. Risks included commercial viability and the narrowing of grant funding opportunities. The draft plan, shaped by extensive engagement, was set for Cabinet consideration in December 2025, followed by further public consultation and adoption in 2026. A summary version with a refined action plan was also planned. The intention was to provide a robust, place-led framework for the ongoing regeneration of Swansea City Centre and its waterfront. Members discussion focussed on several key regeneration projects in Swansea, notably the Palace Theatre on Upper High Street, which was anticipated to have a transformative effect on the area. Improved connectivity, especially between Upper High Street and the Strand, was highlighted as crucial, with active frontages, enhanced lighting, and signage seen as important for safety and attracting footfall. Issues around street furniture, its design, and over-intensification were raised, with reference to existing highways specifications and the need for robust, high-quality maintenance and suitable public realm interventions. A proposed transport hub at the Strand was discussed, intended as a secondary connection point to facilitate movement between the station, city centre, and waterfront, possibly involving innovative solutions such as lifts or ramps. Collaboration with stakeholders like Network Rail was imperative for these regeneration concepts. The conversation also touched on the broader placemaking plan, which included district and town centres, aligning with Welsh Government requirements for comprehensive regeneration strategies to support funding bids. The plans remained at draft stage, with intentions for public consultation and Council adoption to ensure their influence on future decision-making. The Chair thanked the Principal Regeneration Manager for the informative report. Resolved that: 1) The results of the consultation process be submitted to a future meeting.
The Chair presented the Committee Work Plan 2025/26. The Chair referred to a request from the Cabinet Member to include the Local Housing Strategy on the Work Plan. Resolved that: 1) the items for discussion at the meeting on 27 November 2025 include: · Tawe Riverside Strategy / Waterways. · Swansea Council Panel Performance Assessment Report. 2) The Local Housing Strategy be scheduled for discussion on 15 January 2026.
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