Opening date confirmed for Swansea’s new Y Storfa hub

According to Swansea Council, the transformation of the former BHS building at the junction of Oxford Street and Princess Way is a key part of its £1bn regeneration programme. The authority says the project is designed to revitalise the city centre and bring services together under one roof.

“Firm opening date before Christmas”

Council Leader Rob Stewart said the opening was a major milestone:

“It’s fantastic that we now have a firm opening date for Y Storfa – and that it’ll be before Christmas. It’ll be a great new facility that’ll help make the city centre an even better place to visit. The great public interest in Y Storfa will mean added footfall for nearby traders as the festive season develops. It’ll be a place where people can come together – to learn, access important services, or take part in community life in a modern and welcoming space.”

Services under one roof

Swansea Council says that when Y Storfa opens, visitors will be able to access the city’s Central Library, which the authority notes will include dedicated areas for children and families. The council also states that the building will house its Housing Options and Housing Support teams, alongside the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

According to the council, Y Storfa will not just feature council services. Careers Wales and Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot have confirmed they will have permanent bases in the hub, while Swansea University has said its South Wales Miners’ Library is among the organisations preparing to move in over the coming weeks. The council describes these combined services as making Y Storfa a one‑stop destination for learning, advice, and community support.

Wider regeneration

Swansea Council says the opening of Y Storfa is part of a much broader transformation of the city centre. The authority points to work underway next door at Castle Square, which it describes as being redeveloped into a greener, more welcoming public space. Council leaders also highlight other recent projects they have driven, including the creation of the Swansea Building Society Arena, the redesign of The Kingsway and Wind Street, new office space at 71/72 Kingsway, and the restoration of the historic Palace Theatre.

According to the council, private developers are also investing heavily in the area. Projects cited include the Biophilic Living Building on Oxford Street, the Princess Quarter development, and the revival of the Albert Hall, which the authority says are adding to the momentum of regeneration in the city centre.

Backed by Welsh Government

Funding for Y Storfa has come from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme, with construction led by The Kier Group.

The council says the hub will provide a modern, welcoming environment for residents and visitors, while boosting footfall for city centre traders in the run‑up to Christmas and beyond.

#bhs #castleSquareRedevelopment #centralLibrary #centralLibraryMove #centralLibraryRelocation #centralLibrarySwansea #kierGroup #oxfordStreet #princessWay #swansea #swanseaCentralLibrary #swanseaCouncil #swanseaRegeneration #yStorfa #yStorfaSwansea

Swansea Central Library prepares for move to Y Storfa

Swansea Council has confirmed that all library services at the Civic Centre will close on Monday, October 20, with the new Y Storfa facility due to open several weeks later. The exact opening date will be announced soon.

Around 60,000 books and other items are being carefully packed for the move, including 5,000 historic and modern maps, 3,500 microfilm reels, 4,000 picture books, 2,200 graphic novels, and accessible materials such as large‑print, audiobooks, dyslexia‑friendly titles and Braille.

New facilities at Y Storfa

The new Central Library will feature a glass‑fronted children’s library with thousands of books, a sensory wall, interactive games, and a retro gaming area for older children. Board games for families and adults will also be available.

Visitors will be able to access physical newspapers such as the South Wales Evening Post, bound archives, and hundreds of digital titles via the library’s Press Reader and Borrowbox services. Historic newspapers will also be available online through subscription resources and the National Library of Wales.

Temporary arrangements

Swansea’s 16 community libraries will remain open during the transition, although public PCs will be unavailable on October 22 and 23 due to maintenance. Borrowed items can be returned to branch libraries, and online services will remain available 24/7.

Part of city centre regeneration

Y Storfa is part of Swansea Council’s £1bn regeneration programme and will pave the way for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site.

Cllr Elliott King, cabinet member for culture, Swansea Council, said: “Y Storfa will give residents a modern, welcoming Central Library at the heart of the city centre. It’s good to see that preparations for the move are well underway.”

Cllr Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council, said: “Y Storfa will create a central hub where people can learn, access support and come together. It’ll create footfall for city centre businesses and will further boost Swansea’s regeneration.”

More than a library

Alongside the Central Library, Y Storfa will also house the West Glamorgan Archive Service, Housing Options and Housing Services, the council’s contact centre, lifelong learning, and revenue and benefits teams.

Non‑council tenants will include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice Neath Port Talbot, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library.

The project has been supported by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Housing services set to join Y Storfa community hub in city centre
Council confirms housing teams will relocate to the new hub alongside the library.

Fly-through video reveals first look at Swansea’s new Y Storfa community hub
A virtual tour shows how the landmark development will look once complete.

Swansea Central Library preparing for move to Y Storfa hub
Staff begin the process of packing thousands of items ahead of the relocation.

Y Storfa community hub takes shape in Swansea city centre
Construction progresses on the £1bn regeneration project opposite Castle Square.

#BHS #CastleSquare #CentralLibrary #CentralLibraryMove #CentralLibraryRelocation #CivicCentre #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #Library #Swansea #SwanseaCentralLibrary #SwanseaCouncil #YStorfa

Fly-through video reveals first look at Swansea’s new Y Storfa community hub

A major regeneration project is taking shape in the heart of Swansea city centre, with the former BHS store on Oxford Street being transformed into Y Storfa, a modern community services hub.

The scheme, led by Swansea Council with Kier Group as main contractor, will bring together a wide range of facilities under one roof. Alongside a new central library, Y Storfa will also host the council’s contact centre, Housing Options, revenues and benefits, lifelong learning, and the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

Non-council tenants will include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice, and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library, making the building a one‑stop destination for learning, advice and community support.

First look inside

The newly released CGI fly-through highlights the building’s striking exterior and welcoming internal spaces. Viewers are given a first glimpse of the main reception, children’s library, open‑plan library, contact centre, meeting rooms, and a modern conference and events space.

The design also includes accessible lifts to every floor, ensuring the hub is fully inclusive.

Earlier this year, Swansea Bay News published exclusive photos showing the progress of the build (Inside Y Storfa), while a previous update charted how the scheme was taking shape on site (Y Storfa community hub takes shape).

Library move from Civic Centre

To prepare for the relocation, Swansea’s central library at the Civic Centre will close from Monday 20 October. Staff will use the closure period to transfer collections and set up the new facility.

As reported by Swansea Bay News last month (Central Library preparing for move), the move marks the end of an era for the Civic Centre site, which is earmarked for future redevelopment.

“A place where people can come together”

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said the project is part of the city’s wider £1bn regeneration programme.

“Swansea city centre needs more footfall to support its existing traders and help attract new shops and other businesses in future.

“Y Storfa will be a place where people can come together – to learn, access important services, or take part in community life in a modern and welcoming space. By bringing services like the library, archives, Housing Options and others together under one roof, it’ll make life easier for many residents and create opportunities for people of all ages.”

Linked to wider regeneration

The development is located close to car parks, bus stops and cycle routes, making it easily accessible. An official opening date will be announced soon.

Cllr Stewart added that the move will also pave the way for the redevelopment of the Civic Centre site on the waterfront, with regeneration partners Urban Splash currently working on proposals.

Funding for Y Storfa includes support from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

Related articles

• Swansea Central Library preparing for move to Y Storfa hub
• Y Storfa community hub takes shape in Swansea city centre
• Inside Y Storfa: Photos show progress at community hub

#archives #BHS #callCentre #CareersWales #CentralLibrary #CentralLibraryMove #CentralLibraryRelocation #CitizensAdvice #CitizensAdviceCymru #CivicCentre #CllrRobStewart #ContactCentre #featured #HousingOptions #KierGroup #OxfordStreet #PrincessWay #regeneration #SouthWalesMinersMuseum #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TransformingTowns #WestGlamorganArchiveService #YStorfa

Swansea Central Library preparing for move to Y Storfa hub

Swansea’s Central Library is set to leave its long‑time home at the Civic Centre next month, with the council confirming the building will close from Monday 20 October ahead of a move to Y Storfa, the new community services hub being developed in the former BHS unit on Oxford Street.

The authority says more than 60,000 books, along with maps, microfilm reels and other resources, will be packed up and transferred to the new site. The library at Y Storfa is due to open later this year, although the exact date has not yet been announced.

Preparing for the move

During the transition, library members will still be able to use Swansea’s 16 other community libraries. Borrowed items can be returned at those branches, while online services such as eBooks, audiobooks and digital magazines will remain available around the clock.

Events including rhyme time, reading groups and digital support sessions will also continue at community libraries. Memberships will automatically transfer to the new Central Library, and loan periods will be extended to support customers during the closure.

📚 What is Y Storfa?

A new community hub:
Y Storfa is being developed in the former BHS unit on Oxford Street as a multi‑purpose community services hub.

What it offers:
The council says it will promote community cohesion, digital inclusion, wellbeing and opportunities for learning and growth across Swansea’s diverse communities.

Services under one roof:
Confirmed tenants include Swansea’s new Central Library, the West Glamorgan Archive Service, the council’s customer services centre, Housing Options, revenue and benefits, Careers Wales and Citizens Advice.

Flexible spaces:
The hub will also provide agile accommodation for third sector groups, public bodies and private companies that share its community ethos, with collaborative office space designed to support local initiatives.

Part of regeneration:
Y Storfa is described as a flagship project in Swansea’s £1bn city centre regeneration, supported by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

A hub at the heart of the city

Y Storfa is being described by the council as a flagship part of its £1bn city centre regeneration programme. The hub will bring together a wide range of services under one roof, including the council’s contact centre, Housing Options, lifelong learning and the West Glamorgan Archive Service.

Other organisations due to be based there include Careers Wales, Citizens Advice and Swansea University’s South Wales Miners’ Library. The location, in the heart of Oxford Street, is close to bus routes, cycle paths, taxi ranks and car parks.

Cllr Elliott King, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, said:

“Y Storfa will give residents a modern, welcoming Central Library at the heart of the city centre, making it easier than ever to access books, digital resources, and a range of services all in one place.

“This move is a key part of our wider regeneration plans that are transforming Swansea for the future.”

Looking ahead

Council Leader Cllr Rob Stewart said the relocation was about more than just moving books and services.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said:

“It’s about creating a central hub where people can learn, access support, and come together as a community. It’ll also combine with many other schemes to create the footfall the city centre needs to attract more shops and other businesses.

He added that the move would also help generate footfall for the city centre, supporting shops and businesses, while freeing up the Civic Centre site for redevelopment.

“Swansea’s regeneration is moving forward at pace, and Y Storfa is a flagship part of that journey.” Cllr Stewart added.

Key details

• Civic Centre library closes: Monday 20 October
• New Central Library at Y Storfa: Opening later this year (date TBC)
• Other libraries: 16 community branches remain open as normal
• Online services: eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines available 24/7
• Updates: Swansea Council website and Swansea Libraries social media

About Y Storfa

The Y Storfa project is supported by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme and is one of several schemes forming part of Swansea’s wider regeneration strategy.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Y Storfa community hub takes shape in Swansea city centre
Progress continues at the former BHS site, with new features emerging as part of the £1bn regeneration programme.

New images reveal greener, more vibrant future for Swansea’s Castle Square
Plans show more greenery, new pavilions and public spaces designed to revitalise the heart of the city.

Plans revealed for new flats at city centre McDonald’s site
Developers outline proposals for 29 apartments above the fast‑food restaurant on Oxford Street.

New images show plans for transformed historic Castle Cinema
Fresh proposals would see the Grade II listed building redeveloped with apartments, retail and restaurant space.

#archives #BHS #books #CareersWales #CentralLibrary #CentralLibraryMove #CentralLibraryRelocation #CitizensAdvice #CivicCentre #CllrElliottKing #CllrRobStewart #Library #maps #microfilm #OxfordStreet #PrincessWay #SouthWalesMinersMuseum #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #SwanseaLibraries #WestGlamorganArchiveService #YStorfa