Flagship development delayed

ONE of Swansea’s flagship new student developments won’t open for the start of the academic year as planned, but efforts are being made to help those who were expecting to move in.

Contractors have been working on the Coppergate scheme on the corner of The Kingsway and Christina Street for several months, but developer Crosslane Student Developments said the 310-bed scheme has experienced unforeseen delays.

Not all of the rooms have been booked, but students who have paid rent and a deposit – or applied for a room – have been contacted.

Many of them will move to the Oldway Centre – another purpose-built development on High Street – which is opening on September 13.

Crosslane Student Developments has apologised for the delay and said help would be given to students to move into their alternative digs – and again when they decamp to Coppergate, which was expected to open the weekend after next.

But the company could not say when its £22m development, comprising a 14-storey tower and two six-storey wings, would be ready for occupation. At that point, it will be taken over by an operator called Prime Student Living.

A Crosslane Student Developments spokesman said: “Prime Student Living has communicated with students to inform them of the situation, what is happening, the actions being taken, what it means to them and of course to unreservedly apologise for what is very disappointing and concerning news.”

Crosslane Student Developments said a team of advisers was in place to deal with queries from the students, many of whom are from overseas.

The students will still get free gym membership at the YMCA, near the Coppergate site.

Swansea University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David have also been notified of the situation.

The revamped Oldway Centre comprises 556 bedrooms, with 447 being made available for now, as planned, for the first phase.

Swansea University has encouraged students needing accommodation to check its website.

A university spokesman said: “We will be offering help and advice to all the students affected by this issue and supporting them to find alternative accommodation.

“Our accommodation at the Bay and Singleton campuses has all been allocated, although some spaces may become available later in the term.

“We do still have some availability at Hendrefoilan Student Village and Ty Beck (Uplands), as well as some rooms in private sector shared houses which are managed by our accommodation team.”