Local help →Swansea · Wales
Swansea council area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats drawn from the available evidence. These are analytical judgements, not an official council assessment. Where a national comparison is available, lower housing costs, lower reported poor health and higher qualification shares are treated as relative strengths; this does not prove affordability or service quality.
strength
Y Storfa has reached practical completion and its final-cost decision has been approved.
Refurbishing the former Oxford Street premises creates space for community services. Practical completion does not by itself establish which services are open or who can use them.
What could help →strength
32.8% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Swansea council area. Across Wales, the figure was 31.5%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 9.3% in Bishopston to 33.8% in Townhill — a gap of 24.4 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →weakness
Average private rent is £852 a month (August 2026) in Swansea council area. This is £6 higher than the Wales average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 7.1% in Fairwood to 43.5% in Waterfront — a gap of 36.4 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →weakness
7.3% of people reported bad or very bad health in Swansea council area (21 March 2021). Across Wales, the figure was 6.9%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.3% in Pontlliw and Tircoed to 11.2% in Townhill — a gap of 7.9 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →opportunity
St Thomas has approval to develop its plans, not a verified construction start or fully committed funding package.
Proposed response: publish the proposed uses, public benefits and decision milestones as the project moves towards planning and funding decisions.
What could help →opportunity
20.5% of people in Swansea council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 11.5% in Townhill to 36.9% in Pennard — a gap of 25.5 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in Swansea council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.9% in Mayals to 37.5% in Townhill — a gap of 30.5 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →The evidence gathered here does not yet support a distinct finding in this category.
| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Make Y Storfa work as an everyday community hubY Storfa community hub: Practical completion recorded; final-cost decision approved. | Swansea Council | |
| Make waterfront benefits clear before funding commitmentsPublic September 2026 decision record: recommendations approved; future approval required for contractual and funding commitments. | Swansea Council and Urban Splash | |
| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £852 a month (August 2026) in Swansea council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 7.1% in Fairwood to 43.5% in Waterfront — a gap of 36.4 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 32 of 32 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | |
| Plan homes and care around an older population20.5% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 11.5% in Townhill to 36.9% in Pennard — a gap of 25.5 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 32 of 32 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health7.3% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.3% in Pontlliw and Tircoed to 11.2% in Townhill — a gap of 7.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 32 of 32 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities32.8% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 9.3% in Bishopston to 33.8% in Townhill — a gap of 24.4 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 32 of 32 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.9% in Mayals to 37.5% in Townhill — a gap of 30.5 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 32 of 32 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |