This is what an ugly Swansea city centre building is set to be transformed into

A building which overlooks Swansea's Kingsway is set to get a £6m makeover.

The four-storey Orchard House will rise two levels.

It is set to get new commercial premises on the ground floor, modern offices on the first floor and 52 one and two bedroom apartments on the upper levels.

Swansea business, Orchard House Swansea Limited, owns the building’s first two floors and will let them as commercial and office space.

The building’s upper four storeys are owned by housing provider Pobl Group and will be let as residential space.

The construction is being carried out by the south Wales-based Jehu Group and is due to be complete in summer 2020.

A front corner of Swansea’s Orchard House as it is today (Swansea Council)

The back of Swansea’s Orchard House as it looks now (Swansea Council)

Its transformation is part of Swansea Council’s regeneration strategy that aims to facilitate more people living and working in the city centre.

The council is behind the ongoing £12m upgrade of The Kingsway.

Leader of Swansea Council, Rob Stewart said he "warmly welcomes" the investment.

He said: "This work will bring new homes and business opportunities to the Kingsway as well as restoring another major building in the city centre.

“The council’s £12 million investment to create a vibrant new Kingsway business district coupled with the delivery of the City Deal is giving confidence to invest in our city.

"Private sector partners are joining the council and our public sector partners to create more homes, more jobs, and more businesses.”

Pictured outside Swansea’s Orchard House are, from left, Simon Jehu, of builders Jehu Group, Pobl Project Manager Carys Spence and Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart (Swansea Council)

Orchard House faces a green space being delivered as part of the Kingsway urban park project, which will result in 170 trees in the area.

Pobl Group was given planning permission to change the building by city planners in February this year.

The changing face of Swansea's Kingsway

Nick James, of   Orchard House Swansea Limited, said Kingsway will be "a great place to live and do business" in years to come.

He said: “We have a number of ground floor units where we currently have some great tenants in occupation.

"We’ll be working closely with them during this year-long construction project. Of the empty units we expect strong interest.

“The building will look stunning; it will be totally re-clad and will be a great addition to Swansea’s fast-emerging, modern cityscape."