A global engineering consultancy is to help deliver a state-of-the-art digital village in the heart of Swansea.

WSP has been appointed by Swansea Council to inform future transformation plans for The Kingsway including 100,000 sq ft of office space for innovative businesses in sectors such as technology, ICT and life science. There will also be attractive new public spaces. 

This transformation is being made possible by funding from the council. It is also due to be part-funded by the £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal, an investment in 11 major projects across the Swansea Bay City Region and subject to the approval of business cases, with funding from the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the public sector and the private sector.

WSP employs around 7,800 people in the UK who develop creative, comprehensive and sustainable engineering solutions.

In Swansea, they will refresh the council's regeneration strategy for The Kingsway and Orchard Street and update its action plan. They will further develop the council's plan for the former Oceana site to deliver a hi-tech Kingsway Employment Hub there.

In delivering the scheme, WSP will be supported by property and construction consultants Gleeds, urban design experts the Urbanists, built environment specialists Architecture 00 and commercial property consultants Cushman Wakefield.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said: "This high-calibre new partner will be key to developing the Digital Village, working with council officers and other professionals.

"The Kingsway will become a thriving digital district as we start to deliver projects that are due to be part-funded by £1.3bn Swansea Bay City Deal.

"We want to transform the city centre into a vibrant and bustling centre for business and leisure. We want to increase the number of people working and living in Swansea and bring high-quality jobs to the area.

"The Digital Village will be key to the city centre's incredible regeneration plans which will also include a people-friendly Kingsway, 3,500-capacity digital arena and a new-look Castle Garden Square."

Chris Pembridge, director at WSP, said: "We're delighted to have been selected to work with Swansea Council on the Kingsway Digital Employment Hub and the Kingsway regeneration refresh.

"To have the opportunity to be involved in projects that will be so key to the regeneration of this area of Swansea is a real privilege." 

A £12m transformation of the Kingsway pedestrian and traffic areas is currently underway. It will provide a green artery for the city and will help create hundreds of jobs.

The Kingsway is to become a city park including new public areas, landscaped parkland, cycle tracks and a two-way single lane vehicle route along with the creation of wider pedestrian walkways.

This transformation is being made possible by funding from the council, the Swansea Bay City Deal, the Welsh Government and the Wales European Funding Office (WEFO).