Contractors are close to completing the structural phase of a sensitive restoration at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, where a grade II listed Laboratory Building is being brought back into use as part of the council’s ongoing regeneration of the Lower Swansea Valley.
What’s happening on site
Work began in late 2024 and the contractors have recently started installing new floors and will add a Welsh slate roof. Once the building’s fabric works are finished it will be ready for internal fit-out and a process to identify a tenant will follow.
The Laboratory sits beside the historic Morfa Gates and is notable for its ornate windows and stone doorcase. The council believes it was probably used originally to test the quality of copper ore brought to the site during Swansea’s industrial heyday.
“We’re bringing the historic Laboratory Building back into use [and] it’s great to see the floors going in and the building coming back to life,”
Council leader Rob Stewart said the copperworks site could develop into a major leisure destination and pointed to broader plans for the Tawe river corridor and the Lower Swansea Valley.
Wider regeneration and future use
The Laboratory is one of several buildings that have been or are being restored at the former copperworks. Nearby projects include a Penderyn whisky distillery and the restoration of the Vivian and Musgrave engine houses. The council has said potential future uses for the Laboratory could include a restaurant for more than 100 diners, among other leisure uses.
- Contractors: John Weaver Contractors are carrying out the overhaul.
- Design and delivery: GWP Architecture and Coreus Group are involved in the project.
- Funding: The work forms part of a council programme supported by the UK Government’s local regeneration fund.
The council has also outlined complementary riverfront improvements, including new pontoons, a river walkway and additional facilities, aimed at strengthening the area’s tourism offer and reconnecting communities with the Tawe.
| Building | Current status |
|---|---|
| Laboratory Building | Structural works underway; floors being installed; roof to be renewed |
| Vivian and Musgrave engine houses | Planned restoration |
| Penderyn distillery site | Already established on site |
As the project progresses through to internal fit-out and tenant selection, the next phases will determine the extent to which the restored buildings provide new employment, leisure and hospitality opportunities for Swansea. For now, the visible reactivation of these historic structures is a tangible step in the council’s long-term plan to revitalise the Lower Swansea Valley.
