21/07/2022

Building a Sustainable Future for Swansea Council

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Excellent progress is being made on our project for Swansea Council, 71/72 Kingsway.

Located at the former Oceana nightclub site, 71/72 Kingsway will be operationally carbon zero and worth £32.6 million a year to Swansea’s economy.

Due for completion in the summer of 2023, the scheme will include 114,000 square feet of commercial floor space with flexible co-working and office opportunities for businesses in sectors like tech, digital and the creative industries.

71/72 Kingsway forms a key part of the council’s wider sustainability strategy and includes some innovative features to ensure its operationally carbon zero rating. The new development will include a green roof terrace, solar panels on top of the building, trees on each level, underfloor heating and heat recovery systems to minimise energy use.

There will also be a rainwater capture feature, helping with water supply to plants and trees in and around the building. Glazing throughout the development will allow natural light into the building, further reducing energy consumption. The new pedestrian link between The Kingsway and Oxford Street the development is providing will be lined with greenery and flora.

The building is situated on an active travel route, minutes from the city’s main bus and rail stations. Recent improvements on The Kingsway have facilitated Swansea’s push for more carbon neutral ways of travelling, providing wide walkways and cycleways leading off the development. There will also be a bus stop immediately outside the building.

John Boughton, Managing Director of Bouygues UK in Wales and the West, said: “We’re delighted that the construction of 71/72 Kingsway -a key part of the history and infrastructure of Swansea –is progressing so well. We’re proud that the finished building will operate at net zero with a range of sustainable features, an ambition we hope to achieve across our builds.

“There is a big demand for high quality, sustainable office accommodation and this landmark building will help regenerate the area and local community. The mix of commercial and office space is going to be a huge asset to the city.”

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “In Swansea, we know from discussions with businesses that there’s a shortage of this kind of top quality, flexible office accommodation which means some of our young business talent has had to leave the city to set up elsewhere.

“We need to be doing all we can to tackle that trend because these businesses create jobs for local people and generate more footfall and spending in our city centre.

“This development will help meet that need, while also benefitting from high-quality digital connectivity and modern spaces where businesses can network and collaborate. The scheme will also include a huge variety of environmentally friendly, sustainable features that will further raise Swansea’s profile as one of the UK’s leading green cities to invest in.”

The 71/72 Kingsway development is being funded by Swansea Council and the Swansea Bay City Deal. It is also supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.