Retail park renaissance continues as more big names arrive in city
A RETAIL park which was left half empty for years is finally showing signs of reaching its full potential thanks to a string of big new arrivals.
Parc Tawe Retail Park in Swansea city centre got off to a promising start after its revamp got under way in January 2017, with big names arriving including Denny’s American Diner and a Costa drivethru, which joined the likes of long-time occupants Odeon and Plantasia.
It had been redeveloped by former owners Hammerson, who invested £15 million in it, with aims of making it a “leading, contemporary and attractive retail destination”.
But after a flurry of initial activity, things slowed down to such an extent that half of its 20 units remained empty for a number of years.
In July 2020, the company sold the retail park to Centurion Tawe, and it was revealed at the time that the new owners were in discussions with some big retail names to fill in the gaps.
And it is certainly coming to fruition, as the retail park is now filling up nicely with plenty of brand new stores which are drawing in customers in their droves.
A big boost has been the arrival of the new Aldi store, which has filled the huge unit long left vacant after the closure of Toys R Us in April 2018.
It has already proved massively popular, with that area of its car park full to the brim since it opened its doors.
Another exciting announcement is that we’re soon to see a bouldering and climbing centre arrive at the retail park in the form of Flashpoint Swansea.
It will open in April 2022 and is currently recruiting for a manager to join the team this month to start three months prior to the April opening date, offering a generous package of £30,000 per year.
These arrivals have been supplemented by the likes of Double Zero restaurant, which has opened up opposite Plantasia offering coffees, ice creams, milkshakes, paninis and more. Kutchenhaus Kitchens has also opened a base there, and The Department for Work and Pensions has also been granted planning permission to change the use of unit seven from retail to financial and professional services.
The Dirty Fries Company is also set to move into Parc Tawe, having added its signage and graphics to another previously empty unit.
Added to the existing line-up of the likes of India India, Costa, Denny’s, Treatz, Iceland’s Food Warehouse, B&M, Odeon, Plantasia and Tenpin, there’s now once again plenty of reasons for people to pay a visit.
Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) chief executive, Russell Greenslade, said: “The £15m redevelopment of Parc Tawe which began back in 2017 was the start of a welcome renaissance for Parc Tawe, and we have been pleased to see big name businesses like Denny’s, Costa Coffee, The Food Warehouse, Aldi, Flashpoint Bouldering and Climbing Centre and B&M investing
in this key site and providing new jobs.
“This rejuvenation is part of a bigger story of regeneration that is unfolding across the city centre and it is something we should celebrate and get behind.
“Consumers are increasingly wellserved with a strong retail offer as well as very good hospitality and food and beverage outlets and Parc Tawe is a good microcosm of these important elements.”