If you've visited Swansea city centre recently, you'll no doubt have spotted the row of empty shops which have formed along its main thoroughfare of Oxford Street, with four vacant units sitting side by side. To let signs from Glanmor Chartered Surveyors are fixed to three consecutive shops, once filled by the likes of Carphone Warehouse and Thomas Cook, whilst the neighbouring store is also empty.
And there are even more empty units further along Oxford Street. We reported in December last year how H Samuel had closed down after trading in its corner unit for decades. Elsewhere, the former Next store and the unit alongside it also remain vacant and boarded up. So what is exactly happening at each of the prominent units?
As far as Next is concerned, workmen have been spotted revamping the former store, and WalesOnline understands that city centre mainstay ShoeZone will soon be relocating from its current base in Union Street to the empty unit. Get Swansea stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
READ MORE: Big H Samuel jewellers shuts suddenly after decades at Swansea city centre location
Meanwhile, at H Samuel, the new owners of the building have said they are looking to revitalise the retail space and create 27 apartments on the upper floors. In August last year, chief executive of Llanelli-based developer, Kartay Holdings Ltd, Ian Morgan, revealed how the company had acquired 254 to 260 Oxford Street, which includes the aforementioned four empty units, with a view to .revitalising the retail offering' while creating 27 apartments on the upper floors.
Kartay's acquisition follows the company's purchase of Princess House, and the former Smith-Llewellyn building which is being redeveloped into a multi-purpose development providing 15,000sq ft of office space. The ground floor retail units will also look to attract high-end food and beverage outlets.
The developer also owns 1 Oxford Street, which is occupied by Mcdonald's in Castle Square, a five-storey commercial building which it plans to develop, turning the upper floors into residential apartments overlooking the soon to be regenerated Castle Square which itself will feature pavilion buildings for food and drink outlets, outdoor seating and a new water feature.
Mr Morgan said: "A pre-planning application has just gone in looking to change the upper floor to provide affordable apartments. To the ground floor, we want to try and attract nationally recognised retailers and we are in discussions at the moment. We've had a couple of offers from locals and charities, but we want to get some marquee brands and recognised names into the units. We're looking to get tenants in the next month."
A Swansea Council spokesman said: “We’re investing millions of pounds in Swansea city centre to attract more visitors and businesses there and tackle challenges like online shopping, which many other city centres across the UK are facing too. Swansea Arena and a new coastal park have opened, and the look and feel of both Wind Street and The Kingsway have been significantly improved.
"Construction of a new office building at the former Oceana nightclub site with space for 600 workers will be finished by the end of 2023, proposals are in place for a revamped Castle Square Gardens, and work will start this year on a new community hub at the former BHS building. We’ll also continue to invest in our award-winning city centre market.
“This is attracting the private sector to invest in the city centre, with regeneration specialists Urban Splash on board to redevelop major sites including Swansea Central North in the area of the former St David’s Shopping Centre. This will be a mixed-use development of new businesses, homes and offices, helping attract more visitors to the city centre and leading to more people living and working there.
“Hacer Developments are also continuing work on a major new living building development at Picton Yard, local investment company Kartay Holdings has recently acquired six key properties to help revitalise Oxford Street, and the Albert Hall building is being transformed into an entertainment venue. On top of that, there’s been significant investment totalling more than £100m on residential properties on The Kingsway and at the High Street.”
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