Swansea Council has chosen Willmott Dixon to oversee construction for the Copr Bay district after the original contractor, Buckingham Group, faced financial difficulties
The Copr Bay project covers the area that previously housed St David’s Shopping Centre and extends over the new bridge spanning Oystermouth Road to Swansea Arena and the coastal park. Most of the project is already finished and accessible.
This means there will be no disruption to activities at Swansea Arena, the Copr Bay south car park, the coastal park, the Green Room Bar and Kitchen, and the residential unit on the north side of Oystermouth Road.
Limiting disruption at Copr Bay
Willmott Dixon, which has a nearby office in Cardiff, will focus on completing the car park on the north side of Oystermouth Road and addressing some remaining construction details on the site. In the meantime, David’s multi-story car park, slated for demolition, will continue to operate.
“When our contractor Buckingham went into administration, we had to act quickly to protect the council’s position and complete the unfinished work. We’re delighted to appoint Willmott Dixon, one of the country’s leading specialists, to manage the construction and ensure the unfinished work is completed as soon as possible,” said a Swansea council spokesperson.
“The snagging works will now be finished as soon as possible, and work to finish the car park is anticipated for completion in the spring of 2024. The financial arrangements we have in place mean we don’t envisage these works leading to extra costs for the council or the taxpayer,” they continued.
Willmott Dixon builds on city centre portfolio
Willmott Dixon has a proven track record working on redevelopment projects. In July, they were selected to oversee the development of Nottingham’s expansive 20-acre Green Heart regeneration project.
They were also selected as the primary contractor responsible for the transformation of Darlington Station’s entrance in June. This project is part of Network Rail’s ambitious £140m master plan aimed at enhancing train capacity and improving passenger amenities at the station.
“It is very sad what happened to Buckingham Group and to see their supply chain partners go through such a difficult period. We will try to use as many as possible as we complete this important project for Swansea,” commented Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon in Wales and the West.
“We have extensive experience of working in the local area and are pleased to be working with Swansea Council to bring this fantastic development to a fitting conclusion,” he concluded.
