Four Swettenham Pier warehouses to become leisure hub by 2030

Four old Swettenham Pier warehouses in George Town are set to become a waterfront leisure hub by 2030. Duty-free shops, dining outlets, exhibition space and art markets are planned. Penang already has a newer waterfront draw, the Waterfront Shoppes Penang.

Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai gave the details. The Penang Port Commission will carry out the work through Penang Port Sdn Bhd. The old warehouses surround the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in George Town.

Here is what each warehouse will become, when work is due and what is still unsettled. However, the plan needs approvals before refurbishment can begin.

What the Swettenham Pier warehouses will become

Overall, the project covers Warehouses 2, 3, 4 and 6. The plan is called adaptive reuse. The old buildings keep their shells and gain new uses. Specifically, Warehouses 2, 3 and 4 are earmarked for duty-free retail. Warehouse 6 will become retail space.

Meanwhile, the wider site will also have food and beverage outlets and exhibition areas. In addition, it will have small art markets and event spaces. A walkway will run along the waterfront.

Notably, the aim is to keep the warehouses’ maritime heritage and old look. Moreover, the project should link the cruise terminal with George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a result, it would give cruise passengers, domestic tourists and locals more places to shop and relax.

However, Wong did not give a cost for the project. He also did not name any operator or tenant. As a result, brands and rents are still unknown.

Timeline for the Swettenham Pier warehouses

Importantly, Wong said refurbishment is expected to begin in 2028. Construction should take about 18 months. The target for completion is 2030. That is four years away.

That timeline depends on early steps and official approvals. Meanwhile, preparatory work includes site investigations and design development. It also covers impact checks, heritage steps and buying contractors.

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Furthermore, a Conservation Management Plan must also be prepared and approved. Only then can conservation works proceed. Therefore, any delay in that plan could push back the start. The plan is still a proposal.

In addition, the cruise terminal must keep running during the works. The redevelopment has to handle passenger arrivals, especially at peak times. Ground transport and passenger movement must stay functional throughout.

Church Street Pier bid beside the Swettenham Pier warehouses

Separately, Warehouses 5, 7 and 8 at Church Street Pier are under a different proposal. The land at Tanjung City Marina is part of it too. It is under a separate plan from the four warehouses. The Penang Port Commission has issued a request for proposal for these sites.

Moreover, the proposal is based on a 30-year lease. It includes an option for a further 15 years. The Transport Ministry’s Maritime Division is following it up and coordinating.

Importantly, no start date has been set for that bid. Likewise, no bidder has been named. It is separate from the four warehouses at Swettenham Pier.

In short, four Swettenham Pier warehouses should become a duty-free and leisure hub by 2030. Work is due to start in 2028 after approvals. Church Street Pier has no timeline yet.

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