© South Wales Evening Post - 31 January 2006
The £30 million re- development of Swansea's landmark David Evans store has been held up, the Post can reveal today. Work had been scheduled to start early in the new year on razing the old House of Fraser building to the ground to make way for a showpiece new retail scheme.
But nobody is now saying when work will start.
Project developers Thurleigh Estates and Swansea Council both deny they are to blame for any hold up.
But the popular budget £1 store currently occupying the site on a short lease looks like staying put for some time to come.
Thurleigh initially responded to inquiries about progress by saying it was still waiting for planning consent before they could get the scheme underway.
However, Swansea Council today dismissed the claim saying there was no reason why work on the £30 million project could not begin immediately.
In a further twist, the developers then issued a new statement blaming "commercial processes" for the slow- down adding that it was perfectly normal.
Thurleigh announced last year that work would begin in the new year.Questions were raised about that time frame earlier this week when it became apparent there were no signs of activity at the site.
Two upmarket retailers, Zara and Slater Menswear, have already agreed to move in.
Thurleigh's director Graham Drake initially told the Post: "Although we had a committee resolution in December, we are still waiting for bits and pieces such as planning consent to be put in place.
"It is taking us longer than anticipated, but when we have been given the all-clear we will commence demolition."
Swansea Council immediately dismissed that statement.
A spokesman said: "Thurleigh Estates submitted a planning application on October 14, 2005 and this was approved by the full council on the December 13.
"There are no further planning issues with this development," he added.
Following that clarification Thurleigh changed their reasons for the delay, saying that it was now down to commercial processes, but insisted the scheme was still on track.
A spokeswoman for the company said: "Our agents are now in discussions with a number of potential retailers to occupy the remaining units.
"There are a number of commercial processes that we need to complete before we can demolish what is a valuable asset.
"Progress is good but it has taken longer than expected, which is not unusual for a scheme of this size and complexity."
Neither side could say when demolition work was likely to begin, although Thurleighs' spokeswoman said: "Demolition will take place as soon as is reasonably possible."
Council leader Chris Holley said he remained confident there were no problems with the development.
"Thurleigh has already attracted two major retailers to this site and I understand that its agents are in discussions with other retailers."This development will be a massive boost to our retailers in Swansea and it will be a springboard to attract further investment.
"News of the possible delay comes after years of work on a big city centre revamp came to nothing.
The much smaller David Evans redevelopment proposal is seen as a more realistic way forward.
The move can't come quickly enough for other city centre traders, who have been waiting patiently for fresh blood to be injected into the centre after the 15-year wait for the doomed Castle Quays project, centered on the same site.
Peter Birch, of the Oxford Street Traders group, said today: "Swansea desperately needs the input of major retailers and we would like to see something happening.
"We have been told all sorts will happen but have seen nothing concrete, no new developers.
"There is a lot of talk but there has been nothing."
