It’s a transformation that pledges to revolutionise the appearance of one UK city. Positioned in a premier waterfront location, boasting priceless panoramic vistas of Swansea Bay that money simply cannot purchase, the city’s civic centre is set for a huge change.

The building presents unlimited potential for fresh developments to establish themselves and entirely reshape the area, assisting an evolving Swansea. The proposals stretch far beyond the one building, as plans will also reunite the Welsh city with its coastline, a longstanding aspiration of numerous planners. After the council’s move to its new headquarters at Y Storfa in Oxford Street, the burning question on everyone’s mind has been the fate of the commanding civic centre, which has gazed out over the promenade and expansive golden sands since its opening in 1982.

Proposals for a ‘dynamic new centrepiece’ have been revealed by Swansea Council, featuring new cafés, bars and beach sports retailers, flats, office spaces and an entertainment venue, reports Wales Online.

Yet the most striking elements of the proposals are an aquarium and a substantial saltwater lido, a first for the city, establishing a completely fresh and distinctive attraction to elevate one of the genuine treasures in its collection.

A saltwater lido is an outdoor public swimming facility filled with natural, unchlorinated seawater, typically situated on the coastline or constructed as a tidal pool. In the UK, such pools are predominantly found in southwest England, including Trevone Sea Pool, Bude Sea Pool, and Chapel Pool, all in Cornwall, and Westward Ho!

Sea Pool and Shoalstone Seawater Pool, both in Devon. There has long been an ambition to create a stronger connection between the city centre and its stunning bay. A large dual carriageway cutting through the city from the bay hasn’t helped matters.

However, the vision for the new “waterfront district” is to properly unite the city centre and arena area with the beach, featuring a wide pathway linking the two that extends out into the sea on a new pier.

The civic centre would serve as the focal point of the new area, offering a variety of places to eat, drink, stay and work. The redevelopment is being spearheaded by the council and its partner, Urban Splash, a regeneration company established in 1993, renowned for transforming urban areas into thriving places to live, work, and play.

It specialises in innovative design, community engagement, and sustainable modern construction, with high-profile projects in Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield.

And this isn’t the only scheme in the city that it’s involved with. Porth Copr, a contemporary office and learning campus development, is also being built just minutes from the beach.

It has been described as a collection of distinctive buildings “clustered round tranquil new green space overlooking a historic city-centre church”.

A Swansea Council spokesman said the authority was working closely with Urban Splash. “A mixed-use development is proposed for the former St David’s Shopping Centre location, which will be called Porth Copr,” the spokesman revealed.

“This will include a new office building, landscaped public spaces and other developments that will be announced once details are finalised.

“The artist’s impressions for both Porth Copr and the civic centre site are conceptual at this stage.

“Early feedback is soon being sought on initial proposals for the Civic Centre site, which include new cafes, bars and beach sports shops, as well as apartments, workspaces, an aquarium, a saltwater lido and an events space.

“An exhibition is being made available at the Y Storfa community services hub on Oxford Street on January 28 and January 29, giving people the chance to find out more, offer feedback and help shape final plans.

“A webpage will also be live in the coming days where people can give their feedback online. That’ll be publicised once it’s available and there will also be other opportunities for people to give feedback in future.”

He continued: “Commercial and residential uses are being proposed for the Paxton Street car park area, along with improved links to the seafront, although this area won’t form part of the first phase of the Civic Centre site’s redevelopment. More details will be released on proposals for that area once they’re finalised in future.”

The exhibition events will be held at Y Storfa (former BHS) in Oxford Street, Swansea, on Wednesday, January 28, from 3pm until 7pm, and Thursday, January 29 from 9am until 5.30pm.