**New Occupiers Revealed for Swansea’s Former Debenhams Store, but Identities Remain Confidential**
Swansea’s city centre is set for a shake-up as news emerges that three new tenants have been secured for the landmark building that once housed Debenhams at the Quadrant Shopping Centre. Though the identities of the incoming businesses remain under wraps, council leaders have confirmed that two retail chains and a leisure operator are lined up to move in, breathing fresh life into the vacant property.
Detailed in a recent cabinet report, Swansea Council disclosed that the building will soon host two ground-floor retailers, with the upper levels dedicated to leisure activities. The specifics of these tenants are still being kept confidential, pending the finalisation of lease agreements. The announcement comes roughly two years after the council’s strategic purchase of the property, following Debenhams’ closure when the company went into administration.
The local authority’s acquisition was part of a broader initiative to revitalise the city centre, buoyed by nearly £2.85 million in Welsh Government funding. The building, spanning four storeys, has been earmarked for an extensive refurbishment and subdivision to cater to its new occupants. Business insiders and residents alike are keenly awaiting the eventual reveal of the new tenants, with the council citing business sensitivity as the primary reason for the delayed announcement.
According to the council’s cabinet report, there is a pressing need to move swiftly on the refurbishment, or risk losing the commitment of these sought-after tenants. “If commitment is not provided at the time of this report to complete the scheme, then there is a significant risk that the current lettings will not proceed. Retail and leisure operators require certainty of delivery to commit resources to new locations,” the report warned, underlining the importance of continued investment and governance support for the project.
It is anticipated that renovation work will be sufficiently advanced by autumn, at which point new tenants will be able to start fitting out their units. With completion expected by the start of 2026, optimism is building that the revamped premises will mark a major milestone in the rejuvenation of Swansea’s city centre, boosting both commercial activity and local morale.
Council Leader Rob Stewart addressed the significance of the former Debenhams site, acknowledging the public’s interest and the importance of getting the right mix of tenants. “We know how important the former Debenhams building is for local people and city centre businesses. That’s why we’ve been working tirelessly to attract retail and leisure tenants and reach a stage where refurbishment work can take place to prepare the building for occupation once again,” he said, reflecting the council’s determination to succeed where other high streets have floundered.
The property, part of Swansea’s retail landscape for decades, originally changed hands for £3.15 million, with the council covering associated legal and repair costs. Further support from the Welsh Government has brought total funding close to £4.5 million. The council has managed ongoing overheads, including business rates, insurance, and a contribution to the Swansea Business Improvement District, which recently saw reductions following a revaluation. While the exact scale of the renovation budget is not public, projections suggest costs will be offset by lease revenues over time.
Management company Centurion, which assumed a long-term lease of the Quadrant Shopping Centre last year, has signalled its ambition to put the site at the forefront of Swansea’s regeneration. Adam Gibbons, a Centurion executive, previously outlined aspirations to boost footfall and enhance the shopping experience for visitors. He remarked that bringing the old Debenhams building back into use would have a profound effect not only on the Quadrant but on the wider city centre.
As anticipation continues to build over the identities of the soon-to-be-announced retailers and leisure venture, attention now turns to the council’s forthcoming cabinet meeting, where further details about the redevelopment scheme are expected. Residents and businesses across Swansea will be watching closely, optimistic that this new chapter for the former Debenhams store will catalyse further investment and prosperity in the heart of the city.