Work will soon start to give Swansea’s historic Castle Cinema building a new future.
Led by local non-profit Beacon Cymru in partnership with contractors Easy Living Ltd, plans include 30 new apartments and new commercial units.
The new commercial units will include the lower part of the building that fronts on to the Strand, which is intended to accommodate small scale office use.
In the main elevation facing Worcester Place and the castle, a new commercial unit over two storeys is being created for a café/restaurant type use.
A new glazed box is proposed that will form part of this unit and front onto the castle and open space.
The scheme is being supported by Swansea Council via Welsh Government funding.
It aims to preserve as many of the original features as possible, while identifying sustainable uses that will ensure its long-term preservation as a key building in the city.
The council will also soon be starting work to revamp the nearby Castle Square.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “The Castle Cinema building dates back to the early 20th century and – following on from the Palace Theatre and Albert Hall – will be the third historic city centre building to be restored and brought back into use in recent times.
“Led by Beacon Cymru in partnership with Easy Living Ltd, this scheme forms part of a regeneration programme worth over £1bn that’s ongoing in Swansea to transform our city centre into one of the UK’s leading destinations to live, work, study, visit and enjoy.
“Work will also soon be starting on a major revamp of Castle Square into a far greener and more welcoming space for the benefit of local people, businesses and visitors to the city.”
Formerly based at the old Castle Cinema building, Laserzone is now open at the former Iceland unit on St David’s Place.
The council is supporting Laserzone by granting the business a temporary lease for the former Iceland unit, pending the regeneration of the overall former St David’s Shopping Centre site in the longer-term.
