Swindon’s former bus station is set to disappear from the town centre skyline, with demolition work due to begin from next week.
Contractors are expected to move onto the site from 5 January, marking the end of a structure which has stood empty since services transferred to the new bus interchange on Fleming Way earlier this year.
Swindon Borough Council has appointed Cognition Land & Water to carry out the demolition. Work will start with the removal of the metal canopy before progressing to the main building itself. Materials will be carefully separated, with asbestos removed safely and brick, kerbs and concrete processed to be crushed and reused on site where possible. Steel and other materials will be taken away for recycling.
Pre-demolition activity is already underway, with individual bus stops being taken out ahead of the main works. Council Leader Jim Robbins was recently on site to mark the start of the process.
The clearance of the former bus station represents the next step in plans to regenerate the wider Kimmerfields area. A design code is currently being developed to support a high-quality scheme and help attract a development partner.
Plans for the former bus station footprint include new public spaces designed to improve pedestrian links between the railway station and the town centre, building on the changes delivered along Fleming Way. At the heart of the proposals is a new public square, with a regional entertainment venue planned to the north. Work is continuing to explore funding options and long-term viability for the venue.
The Kimmerfields regeneration forms part of the Council’s wider Heart of Swindon vision, which includes more than 50 projects aimed at reshaping the town centre. The strategy was launched earlier this year at the House of Lords.
Councillor Robbins said the demolition marked a significant moment for Swindon.
“I’m genuinely pleased to see the back of a building that never gave visitors a good first impression of our town,” he said. “Fleming Way is a far more welcoming place to catch the bus and sets the standard for what the town centre should feel like.
“The new interchange is already acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration, with significant investment in the former Tri-Centre building and other sites nearby.
“Our focus now is on using the land we own to bring the Heart of Swindon vision to life. Removing the bus station opens the door to new public spaces and a future entertainment venue to replace the ageing Wyvern, while also giving us the chance to finally unlock the potential of the long-derelict Kimmerfields site.
“As we head into 2026, there’s real optimism about what lies ahead for the town centre.”
