Inside Swansea’s old Debenhams: stripped‑out photos show dramatic transformation as major revamp gathers pace
The 13 interior images, taken as contractors near the end of the strip‑out phase, show the building completely hollowed out: escalators gone, ceilings exposed, and entire floors cleared of fittings, walls and partitions. What was once a maze of cosmetics counters, clothing rails and cafés is now a vast, echoing shell waiting for its next chapter.
A team from Andrew Scott Ltd, working on behalf of Swansea Council, is now close to finishing the demolition‑style clear‑out. The move paves the way for the next stage — a full landlord fitout — allowing future tenants to move in far faster once final agreements are signed.
Plans include splitting the ground floor into two new retail units for nationally recognised brands, while the upper floors are being lined up for a major leisure operator. Talks with prospective tenants are said to be “advanced”, with announcements expected once permissions are secured.
The top of the former Debenhams escalators, now stripped back to bare concrete as redevelopment continues.(Image: Swansea Council)A bilingual sign for lifts and stairs still in place inside the stripped‑out Debenhams building. (Image: Swansea Council)A surviving ‘Debenhams First Floor’ sign at the bottom of a stairwell, one of the few reminders of the store’s past. (Image: Swansea Council)A vast open floor inside the old Debenhams, cleared back to its concrete structure. (Image: Swansea Council)Another angle on the cleared retail floor, showing the scale of the redevelopment. (Image: Swansea Council)Concrete pillars line the empty interior as the building prepares for its next phase. (Image: Swansea Council)The base of the escalators inside the former Debenhams, now fenced off during construction. (Image: Swansea Council)Red steel girders exposed above the sealed Garden Street exit beside the Quadrant car park. (Image: Swansea Council)The ground floor stripped to concrete, with the escalators cordoned off as work progresses. (Image: Swansea Council)A side view of the escalators, revealing the cleared floor space stretching behind them. (Image: Swansea Council)A mini‑excavator sits in the middle of the stripped‑out floor as redevelopment continues. (Image: Swansea Council)A ‘Welcome to Swansea’ mural uncovered inside the building during the strip‑out phase. (Image: Swansea Council)
Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:
“We know how much this building means to residents and city centre businesses, which is why we stepped in to secure it with support from the Welsh Government after Debenhams went into administration across the country.
The strip‑out works are now largely complete and our focus now is moving to a landlord fitout so prospective tenants can move quickly into their own fitout phase once agreements are finalised.
Bringing this key building back into use is a major step towards creating a vibrant, thriving city centre. Not only will it provide high‑quality retail and leisure spaces, but it will also generate jobs, increase footfall and encourage further investment.”
The stripped‑back photos show just how extensive the transformation has been — bare floors stretching the length of the building, exposed steelwork, and the last remnants of the old department store removed as the site prepares for its new identity.
Steve Rees, Operations Director at Andrew Scott Ltd, said:
“We’re proud to be involved in the regeneration of such a landmark building.
Projects like this play a vital role in revitalising city centres while supporting local jobs and skills.
We have worked closely with our local supply chain partners ensuring the benefits of the investment are felt across the community. Our expertise in large refurbishment projects will contribute to a new retail and leisure facility that will have lasting benefits for Swansea.”
The Debenhams overhaul is the latest in a string of major city‑centre revivals, following the restoration of the Palace Theatre, the 71/72 Kingsway development — now 80% let — and the opening of Y Storfa, the new community services hub inside the former BHS building.
With the interior now stripped back to its bones, the next few months will determine how quickly the old Debenhams can reopen its doors — and which new names will take over one of Swansea’s most iconic retail spaces.
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