Dare I even think it ?

Is Swansea going to take over Cardiff in the high building sector, as they seem to have a few high rise developments on the go at the moment.

High-rise developments are expensive and are typically fuelled by a land shortage, coupled with a high demand for space (either office or residential) and an ambition to make a statement within a city. You also need support from local authority, otherwise you end up like Bristol.

Swansea has an enormous potential, particularly with its waterfront, but unless it radically transforms its economy, I really don't see how developers are going to justify large-build projects, there's simple not enough return. Yes, they have the current tallest building in Wales and have for the last 7 or 8 years now, but that tower was a novelty as part of a large development. Where are all the high-salary/wage jobs to pay for expensive apartments? How many people out there to have a holiday apartment?

If it wasn’t for the banking crises, Cardiff would have eclipsed that by now. The “Glass Needle”, where No. 1 Central Sq now stands, would have done that on its own.

There are also many more serious and speculative plans for high-rise projects in Cardiff than there are for Swansea:
1) Custom House St development (Watkin Jones) – 42 Storeys (c.130m)
2) Bayscape Tower – 35ish Storeys (c.127m)
3) Bridge St development (Watkin Jones) – 25 Storeys (c.80m)
4) Herbert St (JR Smart) – 23 Storeys (c.77m)
5) Capital Quarter Block M (JR Smart) – 23ish Storeys
TBC
1) Central Square – Phase 5 (Wood St) – earmarked on master plan for a tower
2) Callaghan Square (JR Smart) – Unknown height, probably a tower given £100M is being spent.
3) Dumballs Rd Development – around 15 storeys
4) Capitol Shopping Centre – Possible 30 storey development?

Personally, I see Newport kicking off more than Swansea. Newport will eventually become a suburb of Cardiff (especially with the Metro), it’s closer to London, closer to Bristol, there is more manufacturing and industry around, some great landmarks (new and old) already there. Seriously, there are some really grand old building in Newport that escaped the bombs and bulldozers. Newport, if it was properly cleaned up, could become a little gem of a city.

I think that depends on how many of the proposed buildings in Cardiff proceed. If developments go ahead in... hope street, bridge st, scott rd, bayscape, herbert st, capital quarter hotel, capitol centre? plus various buildings in dumballs road, callaghan square and the sports village then we will have a skyline to rival plenty of uk cities outside of London!! let alone Swansea. Also we have so many more buildings in the 100 to 200ft range already that are adding mid-rise density - Swansea is a long way behind in that area. That said they do hold the title of the tallest in Wales and if hope st tower doesn't happen then the next building proposed to take that title would be bayscape tower or 2 other buildings on the sports village peninsular that may be some way off So Swansea at the moment can claim number 1 for 'the tallest' but I really can't seeing them becoming generally more high rise than Cardiff.

High-rise developments are expensive and are typically fuelled by a land shortage, coupled with a high demand for space (either office or residential) and an ambition to make a statement within a city. You also need support from local authority, otherwise you end up like Bristol.

Swansea has an enormous potential, particularly with its waterfront, but unless it radically transforms its economy, I really don't see how developers are going to justify large-build projects, there's simple not enough return. Yes, they have the current tallest building in Wales and have for the last 7 or 8 years now, but that tower was a novelty as part of a large development. Where are all the high-salary/wage jobs to pay for expensive apartments? How many people out there to have a holiday apartment?

If it wasn’t for the banking crises, Cardiff would have eclipsed that by now. The “Glass Needle”, where No. 1 Central Sq now stands, would have done that on its own.

There are also many more serious and speculative plans for high-rise projects in Cardiff than there are for Swansea:
1) Custom House St development (Watkin Jones) – 42 Storeys (c.130m)
2) Bayscape Tower – 35ish Storeys (c.127m)
3) Bridge St development (Watkin Jones) – 25 Storeys (c.80m)
4) Herbert St (JR Smart) – 23 Storeys (c.77m)
5) Capital Quarter Block M (JR Smart) – 23ish Storeys
TBC
1) Central Square – Phase 5 (Wood St) – earmarked on master plan for a tower
2) Callaghan Square (JR Smart) – Unknown height, probably a tower given £100M is being spent.
3) Dumballs Rd Development – around 15 storeys
4) Capitol Shopping Centre – Possible 30 storey development?

Personally, I see Newport kicking off more than Swansea. Newport will eventually become a suburb of Cardiff (especially with the Metro), it’s closer to London, closer to Bristol, there is more manufacturing and industry around, some great landmarks (new and old) already there. Seriously, there are some really grand old building in Newport that escaped the bombs and bulldozers. Newport, if it was properly cleaned up, could become a little gem of a city.

The problem with the top 3 on the list, are they on hold for some reason or other.

As somebody who's lived in Swansea for the past 4 years, I can assure you that this will probably never be the case. Not only is there very little demand (or money) for such towers, there really isn't that much available space. The relatively small town centre is immediately surrounded by houses. Unless these people relocate, there isn't much space to expand. The only place that could feasibly hold a substantially tall tower is the civic centre (which is soon to be demolished). This has already been proposed, however those plans seem to have already been dropped for a much shorter tower at a different location, showing there really is no call for tall towers in Swansea currently.

On a slightly unrelated note, Swansea's town centre would probably be a lot more successful if they never allowed Tesco to build one of their largest stores right in the middle of the centre. What genius thought of that? It takes up an enormous amount of space and causes traffic chaos on an already nonsensical road network. Most people just use the retail parks on the outskirts now.

The problem with the top 3 on the list, are they on hold for some reason or other.

No. 3 on that list is NOT on hold and never has been. Demolition works of the existing building on Bridge St will start in August to allow construction to start shortly after.

The problem with the top 3 on the list, are they on hold for some reason or other.

No. 3 on that list is NOT on hold and never has been. Demolition works of the existing building on Bridge St will start in August to allow construction to start shortly after.

Don't want to take this off topic but... that's great news - this will be the tallest building in Cardiff, taking that title from the capital tower - constructed in 1970!!!

sorry - back to Swansea -(which will still have a taller tower than Bridge St)

The problem with the top 3 on the list, are they on hold for some reason or other.

No. 3 on that list is NOT on hold and never has been. Demolition works of the existing building on Bridge St will start in August to allow construction to start shortly after.

Don't want to take this off topic but... that's great news - this will be the tallest building in Cardiff, taking that title from the capital tower - constructed in 1970!!!

sorry - back to Swansea -(which will still have a taller tower than Bridge St)

I thought Capital tower was 80m ?

I thought Capital tower was 80m ?

Yes - but the bridge street tower is a lofty 82 metres!! so it would get 'the title' by 6 and a half foot! really pleased about this tower.
I'm trying to remain optimistic about the one in hope street but a bit like the football team I support - you've gotta prepare yourself for dissapointment! then anything better is a bonus!!

The problem with the top 3 on the list, are they on hold for some reason or other.

No. 3 on that list is NOT on hold and never has been. Demolition works of the existing building on Bridge St will start in August to allow construction to start shortly after.

what worries me about this post is that the engineer has an inside track on the bridge street tower which seems to be progressing but not the hope street tower.

hopefully I'm reading too much into it.