Colleagues in travel and leisure company TUI have held an official opening at their new offices in Swansea city centre.
They’re among the tenants at the 71/72 Kingsway scheme located at the former Oceana nightclub site.
Eighty per cent of the office space at the development is now let, discussions with potential tenants for all remaining space are ongoing and further announcements are anticipated for the coming weeks.
Other confirmed tenants so far include IWG and financial company Futures First.
Developed by Swansea Council and part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal, the 71/72 Kingsway scheme can accommodate up to 600 workers.
Commercial units also form part of the scheme, which – when fully up and running – is estimated to be worth £32.6m a year to Swansea’s economy.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, attended the TUI official opening event. He said:
“It’s fantastic to see TUI now located at the new development, joining staff from Futures First at the scheme.
“TUI has been proudly based in Swansea for over 30 years, originally as Thomson before becoming part of the TUI Group, so seeing them join this development is vital in helping us showcase the scheme, while also creating new opportunities for local people.
“Schemes like this are important because they help to retain businesses and jobs in Swansea while also creating new jobs and new opportunities for local people.
“Residents often ask why more shops aren’t opening in the city centre but the reality – given challenges like online shopping – is that far more people are needed there to create the kind of footfall and spending shops will need to consider opening here.
“The 71/72 Kingsway scheme – in combination with others – will help create that footfall as a regeneration programme worth over £1bn continues to transform our city.”
The 104,000 square foot development includes a green rooftop terrace with views over Swansea Bay, along with solar panels on top of the building and heat recovery systems to minimise energy use.
A new link between The Kingsway and Oxford Street also forms part of the scheme.
