It's a transformation that pledges to revolutionise the appearance of a UK city. Positioned in a primewaterfront location, with priceless views of Swansea Bay that money simply cannot purchase, the Welsh city's civic centre has unveiled major plans.

They are set to utterly transform the area and reunite the city with its coastline, a long-cherished dream of numerous planners. After the council's move to its new headquarters at Y Storfa in Oxford Street, attention has turned to the future of civic centre.

The building has looked out onto the promenade and golden sands since its opening in 1982. This week, WalesOnlinemoved significantly closer to uncovering what the plans are.

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Proposals for a 'vibrant new focal point' have been revealed by Swansea Council, featuring fresh cafes, bars and beach sports retailers, flats, workspaces and an events venue. Yet the most remarkable elements of the proposals are an aquarium and a substantial saltwater lido, a first for the city.

A saltwater lido is an outdoor public swimming facility filled with natural, unchlorinated seawater, typically situated on the coastline or designed as a tidal pool. Across the UK, such pools are predominantly found in southwest England, including Trevone Sea Pool, Bude Sea Pool, and Chapel Pool, all in Cornwall, and Westward Ho! Sea Pool and Shoalstone Seawater Pool, both in Devon.

For years, there has been a cherished aspiration for stronger connections between the city centre and its bay. A massive dual carriageway cutting through the city from the bay hasn't helped.

However, the vision involves creating a new "waterfront district" that will genuinely unite the city centre and arena vicinity with the beach, featuring a broad pathway stretching between the two and extending into the sea via a new pier.

The civic centre would serve as the focal point of the new area, complete with numerous venues for dining, drinking, accommodation and employment. The transformation is being spearheaded by the council alongside its collaborator, Urban Splash, a regeneration firm established in 1993, renowned for converting urban districts into thriving spaces for living, working, and recreation.

The company specialises in cutting-edge design, community engagement, and environmentally conscious modern building practices, with distinguished developments in Manchester, Liverpool, and Sheffield. This isn't the sole venture the company is pursuing within the city.

Porth Copr, a contemporary office and educational campus development, is also taking shape just minutes from the shoreline. It has been characterised as a collection of unique buildings "clustered round tranquil new green space overlooking a historic city-centre church".

A Swansea Council representative confirmed the authority was collaborating closely with Urban Splash. "A mixed-use scheme is planned for the former St David's Shopping Centre site, which will be known as Porth Copr," the spokesman said.

"This will include a new office building, landscaped public spaces and other developments that will be announced once details are finalised.

"The artist's impressions for both Porth Copr and the civic centre site are conceptual at this stage. Early feedback is soon being sought on initial proposals for the Civic Centre site, which include new cafes, bars and beach sports shops, as well as apartments, workspaces, an aquarium, a saltwater lido and an events space.

"An exhibition is being made available at the Y Storfa community services hub on Oxford Street on January 28 and January 29, giving people the chance to find out more, offer feedback and help shape final plans.

"A webpage will also be live in the coming days where people can give their feedback online. That'll be publicised once it's available and there will also be other opportunities for people to give feedback in future."

He continued: "Commercial and residential uses are being proposed for the Paxton Street car park area, along with improved links to the seafront, although this area won't form part of the first phase of the Civic Centre site's redevelopment. More details will be released on proposals for that area once they're finalised in future."

The exhibition events will be held at Y Storfa (former BHS) on Oxford Street, Swansea, on Wednesday, January 28, from 3pm until 7pm, and Thursday, January 29 from 9am until 5.30pm.