SWANSEA Council is to move its lorries and vans into a new depot, freeing up the two existing ones.
The authority has been looking for a site for a central depot for a long time and has, subject to completion, secured a site in Swansea Enterprise Park which it will share with current occupant, skin and bodycare company Dr Organic, following some adaptation work.
Council chiefs said no decisions have been taken about the future use of the current depots at Pipehouse Wharf, New Cut Road, and Home Farm, Sketty.
The adaptation work at the shared site on Alberto Road in the enterprise park will require planning permission, and the council said it would take some time to vacate Pipehouse Wharf and Home Farm to ensure services were not disrupted.
“We are talking to staff at these sites to minimise any impact,” said a council spokesman.
Liberal Democrat opposition councillors Chris Holley, Graham Thomas and Sam Bennett had asked in writing for an update on the central depot question.
The written response from Cllr Andrea Lewis, Labour’s cabinet member for corporate services and performance, said contracts have been exchanged and that completion of the sale would be by the end of November.
“Phased occupation will be planned leading to full occupation on completion of adaptation works,” said her response.
The question was one of several by councillors on various topics which have been published in an agenda ahead of a meeting of full council on May 1.
Written answers include that there are currently 7,535 people on the housing waiting list in Swansea, 1,538 of whom are council tenants waiting for a transfer.
It’s also emerged that a new public sector hub near St Mary’s Church is likely to house most of the council’s 165-strong revenues and benefits team, who would occupy one of the four office floors. They currently work in the Civic Centre. A small proportion of the team will move to Y Storfa – the new central hub being created at the former BHS store on the corner of Oxford Street and Princess Way.
Meanwhile, a response to a query about roadside litter said 12,400 tonnes of litter, fly-tipped rubbish, road sweepings, bin waste and general detritus was picked up by council cleansing and highways staff in 2024-25, costing around £7 million.
