Swansea plans to build over 11,000 homes by 2038, with a focus on affordable housing and regeneration projects.
The current development plan will be replaced. This new plan starts in 2023 and runs until 2038. It will locate land for 11,410 new homes. That equates to 760 homes each year. The new plan will prioritize brownfield land and also use greenfield land for regeneration.
Tom Evans wrote the report. He said the urban area will help, and outlying sites near existing areas will be considered. Some sites will have over 400 homes. Large plots already exist in places like Penllergaer, and these areas are developed in the current plan.
People choose where to live for many reasons. These reasons include migration, housing costs, and jobs. Family ties and lifestyle matter too. Swansea’s population grew early this century, reaching 239,023 in 2011. It surprisingly fell to 238,500 in 2021.
Affordable housing is a focus of the new plan. Selected sites require at least 50% affordable homes. Transport links will affect development locations. New railway stations may be explored as part of the South West Wales Metro project. They assessed 132 housing sites, discounting 18. Public input opportunities will follow.
The plan creates frameworks for regeneration projects. These projects are at Swansea docks and along the River Tawe. City center projects are included as well. The plan will promote retail and leisure in residential areas. The plan aims to attract investment, encourage growth and tourism, and boost biodiversity. Swansea aims for a greener future.
The plan anticipates creating 10,200 jobs over fifteen years. Housing completions are below target in Wales. Swansea needed 15,600 homes from 2010 to 2025, averaging 1,040 each year. Only 6,756 homes were built by early 2024, less than half the goal. Factors include Covid, Brexit, and supply issues. Labor shortages hampered efforts. Flood risk and new rules also slowed progress.
Many parts of Swansea’s plan work well. Swansea was first to prioritize “place-making.” This means creating connected places to live, where people can work and enjoy leisure time.
LDP2 needs further work before adoption. Welsh Government inspectors will examine it. A councilor asked if the December 2027 target was realistic.
Mr. Evans felt that date was realistic. A public inquiry will occur later, at which point the council will lose some control. He said LDP2 sets strategic decisions now and clarifies the scale and approach to growth.