Unfinished tower 'affecting city'

Developers say work will resume on the tower block within a matter of weeks

An unfinished tower block looking out over Swansea Bay has been branded a "giant billboard advertising a stagnant economy" in the city.

A dispute between its builders and developers stopped work in April on the 29-storey Meridian Quay tower, the tallest residential building in Wales.

Small sections have been boarded up to protect it from the elements and work will start again soon, say developers.

But the city's civic society say it is affecting the landscape.

The society opposed original planning permission for the tower, which was around eight weeks away from completion.

One of the first things you see coming into Swansea is a stagnant building site right on the bay

Phillipa Watkins, Swansea Civic Society

A dispute between contractor Carrillion and the developer Earthquake saw construction come to a halt in early April.

The developers say they will complete the tower and work will resume in a matter of weeks.

The development on Swansea's foreshore consists of six separate blocks - five of which have been completed with some people now living in them.

But Phillipa Watkins, secretary of the Swansea Civic Society, said it was affecting the landscape.

"We feel that it's a giant billboard advertising a stagnant economy in Swansea," she said.

"As tourism is a really important part of our economy, and the bay the main asset, one of the first things you see coming into Swansea is a stagnant building site right on the bay."

The first 26 floors of the main tower are residential with a restaurant due to open at the top.

Out of 123 apartments in the tower, there have been exchanges on 119 - but no-one has moved in - and the lease had been agreed on the restaurant.

Architect Jonathon Adams told BBC Radio Wales that buildings and the urban environment were important factors that impact on how people feel about where they live.

"Civic buildings are the statement that a society makes about its own sense of identity and ambitions," he said.

"Wales went through a long period when very few substantial civic buildings were built at all - we've been very lucky to see the results of investment in real civic infrastructure since the late 1990s.

"All of these things really have made a difference to the way Welsh people see themselves and see Wales.

"We feel much more capable about doing things now than we probably did 10 years ago."