It is hoped the much awaited Castle Quay city centre redevelopment will create more than 1,000 jobs.

Swansea was redeveloped after heavy bombing in World War Two

On Tuesday, First Secretary Rhodri Morgan agreed to �13m injection of funding from the Welsh Assembly towards the development, work on which is due to start in 2003.

The work involves moving the existing David Evans store to a new location and creating much needed new shop space and city centre housing and leisure facilities.

Plans include moving the David Evans store up the hill, covering over the central plaza from the elements and relocating a historic facade currently housing Pizza Express.

When completed in 2006, the new look city centre will feature 45 new high street shops, five cafe bars, and city view apartments.

Significantly, the scheme will include city centre parking facilities to attract shoppers away from out of town developments.

The construction phase of the project will create an estimated 300 jobs and it is hoped the the scheme will re-establish Swansea as a major shopping centre in Wales.