The visitor centre will appear to float above the water at the dock

The Welsh Development Agency's Mike King believes it is just one of the features that will give SA1 the edge over its counterpart to the east.

A mix of new residential, commercial and leisure schemes has transformed Cardiff's waterfront in recent years.

Landmark buildings include the award winning visitor centre named the Tube.

It's got tremendous advantages over Cardiff Bay and we are hoping that it will be even more successful Mike King

Swansea's SA1 scheme will see �200m spent giving the 100 acre Prince of Wales Dock a similar make-over.

But Mr King says early indications are that it could be even more successful.

"It's the largest scheme that the WDA is involved in anywhere in Wales. It's not a flagship - it's the flagship," he said.

"It's got tremendous advantages over Cardiff Bay and we are hoping that it will be even more successful."

SA1's visitor centre - dubbed The Bubble - has been designed to appear as if it floats above the water in the dock, and is reached by a walkway.

Swansea says its 'Pineapple' eclipses Cardiff Bay's 'Tube'

Using technology similar to that at the Eden Project domes in Cornwall, the transparent building will be lit up at night.

Mr King said it would be more impressive that Cardiff's Tube and become an attraction in its own right.

He said progress so far at SA1 included the completion of two Techniums aimed at encouraging new hi-tech and modern businesses.

He said the Sail Bridge linking the dock to the city centre had already become an iconic symbol and said housing developers were queuing up to get involved.