Contract Awarded for Swansea Bay City Deal's £10m Better Broadband Infill Project
Swansea Bay City Deal's Digital Infrastructure Programme has announced that BT in partnership with Openreach has successfully been awarded the delivery contract for the Better Broadband Infill Project.
The £10 million project will bring full fibre broadband to 1,533 premises and an additional 256 sites across the four counties in the Swansea Bay City Region – Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire.
This project specifically targets premises that currently have broadband speeds of less than 30Mbps and who are not in scope for any existing government interventions such as Project Gigabit or part of commercial build plans. The homes and businesses included are predominantly in harder to reach, rural areas where the cost to provide faster broadband services is considerably higher.
Cllr. Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council and Chair of the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Committee, said:
'This project is a game-changer for our region. By bringing high-speed internet to areas that have been left behind, we are not only improving quality of life but also opening up new opportunities for economic and social development. Access to reliable broadband is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. This project will ensure that everyone in the Swansea Bay region can participate fully in the digital age.'
Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT, said:
'Connectivity is at the heart of how people live and work today but all of that relies on the right infrastructure being in place.
'The Better Broadband Infill Project will improve services for thousands of people across the Swansea Bay City Region who will benefit from state-of-the-art connectivity even in hard-to-reach areas.'The Better Broadband Infill Project is set to start this month and will continue its delivery across the region over six phases, with the first 220 premises connected by December this year and a completion date of March 31st 2027.'
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Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Wales Online
The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come
The transformation of Swansea over the years and a look at what is still to come We've compiled a list of developments across Swansea that have already been delivered, and what comes next Swansea will look very different in the future, and some of it has already begun to take shape (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The figure £1bn is one that has found its place in news, in the council, on the roads, and several promises by the Swansea Council Leader, Rob Stewart. But what is it actually about? According to the Swansea Council this is the total amount of money that is being invested in the city as the part of a massive 'regeneration' drive by the local authority aimed to transform it. Over the years, we have seen several projects by Swansea Council that have already begun to reshape Swansea into something different. Some of this sum has already been spent and though there have been some delays in some projects, there are several that have already been completed and several more currently being undertaken. So where is this money being spent, and who is funding it? We asked Swansea Council exactly this, and have compiled a list of key projects that have been completed, and others that are currently ongoing. Although this is not an exhaustive list, and does not cover some of the projects still being planned, we hope it paints a picture of what has changed in Swansea over the years and what is still to come. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Copr Bay district The Swansea Arena was opened with full pomp and show in 2022 (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Article continues below The Swansea Arena was built as part of the £135m Copr Bay District project, and opened in March 2022 after five long years of hard work. The arena was built by the Swansea Council and forms part of the Swansea City and Waterfront Digital District project which is partly funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal. The Copr Bay District project gave birth to adjacent coastal park, car park below, the golden pedestrian bridge across Oystermouth Road, and flats and commercial units opposite. The £135m cost of the project necessitated £96m of council borrowing that was done a low interest rate. This is supposed to be paid back over the course of 40 years, with total borrowing costs amounting to just under £175m. For the project, part of the funding is also coming from the sale of the flats, a Welsh Government loan, and a contribution via the city deal for the Swansea Bay City Region. Since its opening in 2022, the Swansea Arena has attracted more than 750,000 visitors to events like graduations, conferences and creative learning events. It has also attracted major stars like Johnny Depp, and Alice Cooper with The Hollywood Vampires, Gladys Knight and Michael McIntyre. The unfinished multi-storey car park remains a blot on the project (Image: Richard Youle ) Now, the not so good part. Though a major part of the Copr Bay District project has been built, the multi storey car park for the Swansea Arena that was supposed to open close around the same time as the arena, has not opened for years. Initially, the Buckingham Group was selected as the contractor for the project. However, the car park's completion was already being delayed due to problems with the paintwork coating system , and this was further complicated when the Buckingham Group went into administration . Though there is hope. With a new firm being appointed to complete the car park in 2024, the council has recently said that it expects the work to be completed by the end of this year. The Palace theatre building Though it doesn't look much different from the outside, the interior has been completely transformed (Image: Richard Youle ) The rejuvenation of the Palace Theatre, a Grade II listed building located on the Prince of Wales Road in Swansea was one of the flagship projects in the £1bn regeneration program for Swansea. The regeneration project was led and funded by the Swansea council with an investment of over £6.9m from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns initiative. The palace was left to its fate until Swansea Council acquired it and began its extensive transformation process. The improved exterior does not look much different, as it stays true to its original 1888 roots. However, its interior, which spans over six floors and a basement, has now been revamped. While the council is still the owner of the building, it is now operated by Tramshed Tech which offers flexible work space, business growth programmes, and skills and training for the creative, digital and technology sectors. Restoration of Albert Hall The restored Albert Hall was opened in September last year (Image: Richard Youle ) In September last year, another Grade II listed, the Albert Hall located between The Kingsway and De-La-Beche Street was opened after an extensive restoration project. The hall was originally opened as a public assembly hall and concert venue in 1864. After it closed its doors in 2007 as a cinema and bingo hall — its future looked pretty bleak, not much different than the Palace Theatre before its restoration. Then came the company, LoftCo who not only secured a planning permission from the city council, but also a £5.6m Welsh Government grant, so it could buy and restore the site. In total, the project is expected to have cost close to £9m. The current layout can house 450 people on its ground floor and an additional 100 people on its private entertainment areas above it. The venue boasts of four storeys with a ground-floor food hall and bar, with private entertainment space, offices, studios, visitor accommodation, a gym, and a rooftop garden above. The Princess Quarter The glass fronted building is hard to miss (Image: Gareth Danks Photography ) Kartay has recently completed the construction of a a multi-million pound office and commercial project called Princess Quarter, on Princess Way at the site of the former Mamma Mia restaurant. The building is a three storey glass fronted monument that boasts of a 15,000 square feet of office space and offers adaptable retail units on the ground floor. It features a ground-floor reception which has 'luxury communal seating' , alongside concierge service, shower, changing facilities, vanity areas, and secure cycle storage to the rear. Kartay is a development, investment and asset management company, that was set up in 2019. It has since purchased nine 'key buildings" in Swansea's main redevelopment zones. Apart from the Princess Quarter project, the company is also leading the development of Princess House, which is a 10-storey office building in city centre at 1 Oxford Street, a five-storey commercial building that is currently home to McDonalds. It also plans to offer high quality apartments on the upper floors, and retail units at 256 to 260 Oxford Street. Regeneration of Wind Street The changes made in the city are part of a regeneration scheme worth over £1bn (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) The Swansea Council has led a £3m project to improve the city's iconic Wind Street. This included new paving, seating, seating, greenery, and dedicated outdoor spaces for the hospitality dining areas. The Amy Dillwyn Park This was the first park in the city centre over several generations, and features a one of the largest green roofs in Wales. Developed by Swansea Council, it was renamed after the Victorian novelist and philanthropist, Amy Dillwyn in March 2024 to mark the International Women's Day. Upgrade to Kingsway to improve its look and feel A sum of £12m was put in by the Swansea Council to improve the 'look and feel' for the city's Kingsway, and its neighbouring streets. The council has expected that the new improvements will bring footfall to encourage new business while supporting existing traders. Council leader Rob Stewart has said that the local authority aims to turn Swansea into one of UK's greenest cities and that this project reflects the council's commitment to do so. Bollards along the Mumbles promenade More than 300 'energy efficient LED lighting bollards' have been installed along the length of the bay. The route is popular among walkers and cyclists who use it frequently in the evenings. Coming through an £400,000 Swansea Council investment, the low-level bollards have been installed every 14 metres along the length of the promenade and are expected to cost just £15 per year to light up. The Innovation Matrix Based at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) SA1 campus, this project is now open, and offers 'opportunities for established businesses and dynamic start-ups to accelerate new product development, access specialist technical support, hire graduate talent and create knowledge exchange partnerships with the university.' The centre is funded through a partnership between the UWTSD and the Swansea Bay City deal. It was built by Kier Construction which has secured £6m worth of contracts with Wales-based businesses during the construction process. Following are some of the ongoing projects in Swansea: 71/72 Kingsway Scheme The posh new office development already has two tenants (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) The council bought the former Oceana building which was located at 71/72 Kingsway in 2015. This purchase was meant to deliver the employment hub proposal that were put forth in Swansea Central Area Regeneration Framework (SCARF). The project was submitted as a part of the wider Digital Programme to Swansea Bay City Deal, and was successful in obtaining £13.71m in City Deal Funding. The revamped building has now been handed over to Swansea Council, and is set to open this summer. First tenants have already been announced for building, with Travel company TUI and workspace provider IWG Ltd set to occupy just over a quarter of the building. The Biophillic Building The building is slated to be constructed later this year (Image: Hacer Developments ) This project aims to give birth to a 13-storey-high building between the city's The Kingsway and Oxford Street. The construction of the tower is being led by the Swansea-based firm, Hacer Devopments. To be powered by solar energy and said to use a 'air source heat system', the building is touted to use five times less energy than a building which is powered by gas boilers. The funding for this scheme is coming from a mixture of private sector funding with money from Welsh Government's Innovative Housing Programme, Pobl and the Development Bank of Wales footing part of the bill. It will include an urban-style greenhouse set over four floors, an education facility featuring an aquaponic system, rooftop gardens, wildflower borders and green spaces, nine floors of apartments to be managed by Pobl, close to 32,000 square feet of commercial floor space for businesses, retail spaces, a landscaped courtyard, and a bio-solar roof with ambient loop heating, and sustainable drainage systems. Swansea Council has said that this building will have the capacity to accommodate more than 500 people once complete, and expects the development to create jobs and home. The project is due to be completed later this year, and latest pictures show the mammoth tower to have spectacular views at the top. Y Storfa community services hub Progress continues to be made at the new community hub (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) This project will be built on the former BHS units on Oxford Street, and aims to provide a multi-purpose hub for the people of Swansea. The Welsh government provided a £2m grant towards the project and an additional £3.5m was also made available to Swansea Council to develop this project into a public focal point. Though the council had hoped that the project could be completed as soon as 2023, the scheme is due for completion this year. Council-run services like Swansea Library, the West Glamorgan Archive Service, Housing Options, lifelong learning, and the Contact Centre will calling the new community hub their home. Non-council tenants are set to include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice and Swansea University's South Wales Miners' Library. Redevelopment of the former JT Morgan building on Belle Vue Way The project is being given funding support by the Welsh Government (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Under the initiative led by Elysium Gallery, the vacant JT Morgan building on Belle Vue Way - which has been unoccupied since 2008 - is set to become a hub for 53 creative entrepreneurs. The space will provide studios for painters, illustrators, sculptors, designers, printmakers, photographers, actors and video editors. The project will also feature a gallery, a function suite, a dedicated education centre and a quiet room. Funding coming from the Swansea Council via the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund is contributing towards the internal works and strip out, as well as enhancements to the roof structure. The project has also received financial support from the Welsh Government through its Transforming Towns scheme. Additional funding has been secured from the Arts Council of Wales, the Architectural Heritage Fund and a community shares initiative. The first phase of work is anticipated to be completed this summer. Restoration of the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks How the Vivian and Musgrave Engine Houses could look like in the future (Image: South Wales Evening Post ) Swansea Council has approved the plans restore two engine houses at the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site. The project would see a new mezzanine and first floor being built at the Vivian engine house which is expected to be by occupied by tenants. The Musgrave engine house, which is next to Vivian engine house, will be turned into a exhibition area that will display the original engine. Additionally, a new building joining both the engine houses will also be built. The council, and the people behind the planning application say the new buildings will be available for a number uses like restaurants, cafe, exhibition space and retail. The funding for this project is being done through a mixture of Swansea Council funding, and Welsh Government funding via the levelling-up scheme. The council has successfully bid for £20m of UK Government funding for this project. Restoration of Castle Cinema How the Castle Square development could look like (Image: Swansea Council ) Council says work to restore the city's historic Castle Cinema building is going to start soon. The project is being spearheaded by local non-profit Beacon Cymru and contractors Easy Living Ltd. Plans for the project includes 30 new flats and fresh commercial spaces. The commercial units will occupy the lower part of the building facing the Strand, designed to house small-scale office operations. A two-storey commercial unit is planned on the main elevation overlooking Worcester Place and the castle, intended for café or restaurant use. A proposed glazed box, forming part of this unit, will offer views of the castle and open space. The project is being supported by the Swansea Council, via Welsh Government funding. The Castle Square revamp Work has now started on the council's plan to transform the Castle Square in Swansea. The transformation will see the addition of two pavilion buildings for food, drink or retail businesses; an increase in greenery including new lawns, ornamental and biodiverse planting to provide an area with 40% green space. A new interactive water feature will also be included, along with new outdoor seating areas and a giant TV screen above a bandstand-style facility. Preparatory work has already been undertaken at the site, including the re-laying of high-voltage cables to accommodate the square's future design, a project that has seen significant public engagement. The Leaf Boat sculpture, a distinguishing sight the Castle Square is also being removed in the next phase of the project. This piece will be safely stored while the council, in consultation with various parties including the sculptor, determines a new location for the artwork within Swansea. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year, is being funded by Swansea Council with support from the Welsh Government. The Mumbles Coastal Defence Project It is due for completion this summer (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) This ambitious, multi-million pound project aims to replace the existing worn down seawall which was atleast over a hundred years old and had been showing cracks from years of wear and tear. This expansive civil engineering project is being undertaken with the objective of protecting businesses, organisations, attractions, events, and several homes against rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Welsh Government's claim is that the new seawall will protect the Mumbles coast for the next 100 years. The £26.5m project is primarily funded by the Welsh Government, managed by Swansea Council, and is being delivered by Knights Brown as the main contractor. However, Swansea Council is footing the bill for nearly 15% of the project, with the Welsh government also providing the local authority with the development costs associated with this scheme, amounting to £1.9m. It began in early 2023 and nearly 110 workers from Knights Brown have been working tirelessly on the project since. It is expected to be completed by summer this year. Digital infrastructure project In an effort to alleviate network congestion, small cell sites have been deployed to enhance network capacity as required, with the objective that people will be able to use their mobiles for calls, messaging or internet access during peak times in the city centre, such as during the Christmas parade and the Wales Airshow. This initiative, a collaboration between Swansea Council, Freshwave, and Virgin Media O2, is part of a larger regional digital infrastructure project costing £55m, which is partly being funded by the Swansea Bay City deal. Council says that the project has been spearheaded by the its digital champions, who have worked in close coordination with Freshwave, Virgin Media O2, and other council departments to minimise disruption for businesses and visitors to the city centre during the implementation phase. Article continues below Other Developments Student accommodation projects, such as the £22m Coppergate scheme on The Kingsway and the £65m Seren scheme on Mariner Street. A new market garden is in the works, courtesy of a £500,000 council investment in the market that will also enhance its entrances. An £11.4m placemaking grants investment is set to create new homes and boost commercial premises in the city centre. This funding comprises private contributions and £7m from the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns scheme.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Warning to anyone with a UK landline ahead of ‘big change' being rolled out nationwide
Virgin Media customers will receive a letter informing them of their switchover date FINAL CALL Warning to anyone with a UK landline ahead of 'big change' being rolled out nationwide A MAJOR change affecting thousands of people who use landline phones in the UK is on its way. Virgin Media is in the process of sending out new advice to all its customers who use the ageing devices. 1 Digital Voice is an initiative that is being rolled out across the UK and affects everyone with a landline, regardless of who supplies the service It comes as the service provider continues to move all landline phones over to a high-speed broadband connection. Digital Voice, a UK-wide initiative, is forcing everyone with a landline to go digital. This affects anyone with a landline phone, regardless of who their supplier is. Landlines were traditionally wired in through the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via legacy copper networks. In recent years the country has been outfitted with fibre broadband networks, and now landlines are being moved to work on these networks instead as the PSTN is too old and expensive to maintain. 'To make sure all your services are tip-top for the future, we're switching all our customers to our fibre phone network,' Virgin Media said on its website. 'This upgrade is rolling out nationwide, and we want to make sure everyone's ready. 'The Digital Voice Switchover is a big change, but it's designed to make landline services more reliable and future-ready.' That means if you have a landline, it will need to be switched to work over your home broadband connection instead of being plugged into your home's phone line socket. Thousands of homes warned of old landline switch off happening in 84 locations The firm's advice mirrors that set out by BT and the UK government. Virgin said there is 'no extra cost' to switch, and that your phone number will stay the same. 'To keep you connected to all the people and things that matter, we need your help to change how you plug your phone in and switch over to our new, ultra-reliable fibre network,' Virgin said. 'When you switch, your phone will need to be plugged directly into the WiFi Hub.' The WiFi Hub is the name of Virgin's home WiFi router. The firm says if you don't already have a Hub, it will send one to you. If you do not have home broadband, you are unlikely to have the Hub, but it is necessary to have one in order for your landline service to switch to a digital connection. Virgin Media confirmed you will not be forced to buy a broadband plan if you don't want one, it's just that you need the WiFi Hub in your home to plug your landline into. 'If you've already switched over to our fibre phone line, meaning your phone line is already connected to the WiFi Hub, then you're up and running on our new network, and there's nothing for you to do,' a spokesperson for Virgin said. 'To make sure you continue to get the great service you expect, you'll need to follow a few simple instructions from us when the time comes. "So, it's important that you keep your eye on your letterboxes and inboxes so you don't miss this information.' What to do in an emergency Virgin says landlines will stop working on the new technology if there is a power cut. In a statement, the company said: 'In the unlikely event of a power cut or a network disruption, you won't be able to make or receive calls on your landline. "Always keep a mobile phone charged and handy.' The firm directs customers without a mobile phone, and those with accessibility needs who rely on landlines, to ask about the provision of an emergency backup line, a battery-powered second phone line. You should be on the lookout for a letter or email from Virgin Media concerning your specific switchover date. 'On this day, you'll need to use an adaptor to plug your landline into our WiFi Hub,' Virgin said. 'We'll either send you the adaptor and step-by-step instructions or arrange for an engineer to carry out the switch for you.' Digital Voice is said to be a better quality phone line as it will be going over a faster digital broadband connection rather than an analogue copper wire.
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Warning to anyone with a UK landline ahead of ‘big change' being rolled out nationwide
A MAJOR change affecting thousands of people who use landline phones in the UK is on its way. Virgin Media is in the process of sending out new advice to all its customers who use the ageing devices. It comes as the service provider continues to move all landline phones over to a high-speed broadband connection. Digital Voice, a UK-wide initiative, is forcing everyone with a landline to go digital. This affects anyone with a landline phone, regardless of who their supplier is. Landlines were traditionally wired in through the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via legacy copper networks. In recent years the country has been outfitted with fibre broadband networks, and now landlines are being moved to work on these networks instead as the PSTN is too old and expensive to maintain. 'To make sure all your services are tip-top for the future, we're switching all our customers to our fibre phone network,' Virgin Media said on its website. 'This upgrade is rolling out nationwide, and we want to make sure everyone's ready. 'The Digital Voice Switchover is a big change, but it's designed to make landline services more reliable and future-ready.' That means if you have a landline, it will need to be switched to work over your home broadband connection instead of being plugged into your home's phone line socket. Thousands of homes warned of old landline switch off happening in 84 locations The firm's advice mirrors that set out by BT and the UK government. Virgin said there is 'no extra cost' to switch, and that your phone number will stay the same. 'To keep you connected to all the people and things that matter, we need your help to change how you plug your phone in and switch over to our new, ultra-reliable fibre network,' Virgin said. 'When you switch, your phone will need to be plugged directly into the WiFi Hub.' The WiFi Hub is the name of Virgin's home WiFi router. The firm says if you don't already have a Hub, it will send one to you. If you do not have home broadband, you are unlikely to have the Hub, but it is necessary to have one in order for your landline service to switch to a digital connection. Virgin Media confirmed you will not be forced to buy a broadband plan if you don't want one, it's just that you need the WiFi Hub in your home to plug your landline into. 'If you've already switched over to our fibre phone line, meaning your phone line is already connected to the WiFi Hub, then you're up and running on our new network, and there's nothing for you to do,' a spokesperson for Virgin said. 'To make sure you continue to get the great service you expect, you'll need to follow a few simple instructions from us when the time comes. "So, it's important that you keep your eye on your letterboxes and inboxes so you don't miss this information.' What to do in an emergency Virgin says landlines will stop working on the new technology if there is a power cut. In a statement, the company said: 'In the unlikely event of a power cut or a network disruption, you won't be able to make or receive calls on your landline. "Always keep a mobile phone charged and handy.' The firm directs customers without a mobile phone, and those with accessibility needs who rely on landlines, to ask about the provision of an emergency backup line, a battery-powered second phone line. You should be on the lookout for a letter or email from Virgin Media concerning your specific switchover date. 'On this day, you'll need to use an adaptor to plug your landline into our WiFi Hub,' Virgin said. 'We'll either send you the adaptor and step-by-step instructions or arrange for an engineer to carry out the switch for you.' Digital Voice is said to be a better quality phone line as it will be going over a faster digital broadband connection rather than an analogue copper wire.
