Grant Associates to take Swansea City Centre redevelopment into the next stage

Bath-based landscape architect, Grant Associates, has been appointed by Swansea Council to develop the first phase of a major landscape and public realm masterplan designed to transform Swansea city centre.

The Swansea Central office quarter development is being delivered by regeneration specialist, Urban Splash. It aims to revitalise the city centre with new amenities including restaurants, shops, cafes, offices and other businesses. Associated with this is a completely reimagined public realm that prioritises pedestrian movement, connecting the city centre to the sea, and creates new spaces to encourage community interaction.

The scheme aims to attract more people to the area with enhanced spaces to live, work, study and visit, while supporting traders and creating more investment opportunities for the city centre.

Grant Associates has held a pivotal role as landscape architects for the entire 300,000 sq ft development over the last few years. A collaborative project, the firm has been working as part of the Urban Splash design team, including masterplanners, ACME.

The first phase of the masterplan, Plot B, will cover the gateway to the new Swansea arena and connections to the coast. At the heart is a five-storey public sector building designed by Urban Splash appointed architect, ShedKM. This vibrant hub will include both high-quality amenities and lively workspaces.

Swansea Council’s strategy for Swansea Central is, ‘Regenerating Our City for Wellbeing and Wildlife’, which is aligned with Grant Associates core values. The public realm will be both green and multifunctional, supporting the new building in its existing context but also following the vision of the wider masterplan.

The design approach to the geometries, textures, colours and planting takes inspiration from the geological and coastal context featuring a palette of natural warm tones. The green spaces will feature a diversity of tree, plant and wildflower species to attract urban biodiversity and bolster climate resilience. Other environmental considerations include sustainable water management and micro-climate improvements.

Planning permission for Plot B was first secured by Urban Splash in November 2024. Now Grant Associates and architects, ShedKM, have been engaged to progress to the next design stage and will help to deliver Plot B as the first building to come forward in Swansea Council and Urban Splash’s 20-year strategic regeneration partnership, which covers a number of city centre sites. Construction of Plot B is being co-ordinated by the Council’s development managers, Rivington Hark and project managers, Ridge and Partners. This next stage entails developing the detailed design of the public realm associated with Plot B ready for tender purposes.