Out-of-town 'future of shopping’ centre that's nearly half empty as owners quit

An out-of-town complex that was supposed to be the future of shopping lay nearly half empty after shops abandoned it.

When it was first announced Parc Fforestfach was thought to be the future of retail and some worried it would sound a death knell for Swansea city centre.

But the 14-acre development, despite an initial boom, has struggled to attract shops as a number of those who set up there have since quit the premises.

The £15 million centre opened in August 2002 to a huge first week of 40,000 shoppers coming to see the huge Tesco Extra, Next, Birthdays, Outfit, WH Smith, Argos, JJB Sports, Pizza Hut and more.

Shops in Swansea and other local towns expressed their worries that Parc Fforestfach would leave them losing out on trade.

Almost half of the units sit empty now (John Myers)

Alan Jenkins, who was at the time assistant manager of Kwik Save in Alexandra Road, Gorseinon, said, in October 2002: "There has definitely been a drop in trade here and there are fewer people around the streets of Gorseinon. It has had a big impact.

"We used to get a lot of passing trade but the town seems quieter because the development has taken people out of the town.

"We sell a lot of goods and food which they sell in Fforestfach. People go there for a walk around and they don't come back into town to do their shopping. Other businesses are experiencing the same thing.''

The Swansea based retail park was once thought to be the future of shopping in the area (John Myers)

However, since then things have changed and the only remaining store from the complex’s original line up is the Tesco Extra.

The others have all up and left and even though replacements came, they have often left too.

Marks & Spencer joined two years after opening, but shut its clothes store for the final time in March 2018.

Of the centres original line up only Tesco Extra remains (John Myers)

Similarly, clothing giant H&M left in September 2020 as DW Sports Fitness, Greggs, Carphone Warehouse and O2 all once had units at Parc Fforestfach - but all have since left.

Now run by Nuveen Real Estate, there are currently six empty units and this is soon to be seven as Homesense recently announced it was quitting Swansea at the end of March, Wales Online reported.

Parc Fforestfach boasts seven shops on its website, including the soon to depart Homesense.

The park is set to lose Homesense in March, but gain an Aldi soon too (John Myers)

Alongside this it has two cafe’s and a gym - meaning of the 16 possible shops, only nine will be filled and seven empty.

But there is some good news for the retail park as Aldi look set to join in the old New Look unit.

Parc Fforestfach isn’t the only shopping centre to be affected by wider retail trends as the nearby West Swansea Retail Park also has a chunk of its units empty.

Parc Fforestfach has been approach for comment.