The long-awaited transformation of Swindon town centre is moving up a gear, with progress on key sites set to be shared next week.
At the next meeting of Swindon Borough Council’s Build a Better Swindon Policy and Development Committee (Thursday 11 September), Council Leader Cllr Jim Robbins will present a six-month update on the regeneration vision first unveiled in March at the House of Lords.
The plans – branded Heart of Swindon – aim to bring fresh investment, new jobs and more homes to the centre, turning it into a vibrant destination with a mix of uses.
Knowledge Central – unlocking the station
Top of the agenda is the 100-acre Knowledge Central site, which will see the area around Swindon train station redeveloped into a high-quality commercial district. This could deliver thousands of jobs and hundreds of homes.
So far, £350,000 in funding has been secured to design a new northern station entrance and commission technical studies. Network Rail’s new rail development company Platform4 has made the project a priority, with talks already underway with potential tenants and funders.
Kimmerfields – next steps
On the Kimmerfields site, councillors will hear that talks with a previous developer have ended, but a design code for a new scheme is now being prepared to attract fresh partners.
The old bus station on the site is also set for demolition in the coming months, making way for a new town centre entertainment venue.
Fleming Way & wider investment
The £33m Fleming Way improvements are already attracting investment, with FI Real Estate pumping £8.5m into refurbishing offices at the Tri-Centre. Work is also ongoing with the owners of the former Debenhams store to secure a new tenant.
Fleet Street & Bridge Street revival
Elsewhere, the Council is exploring a new Business Improvement District (BID) and working with landlords, cultural groups and the Swindon Culture Collective CIC to breathe new life into Fleet Street and Bridge Street.
Festoon lighting, public art, and cultural events are planned as part of the vision to turn the area into an independent and artisan quarter.
A strong start – but more to do
Cllr Robbins said:
“Transforming the town centre is one of our major priorities as a council and the Heart of Swindon vision clearly sets out how we intend to deliver it.
We’ve got partners fully behind our plans to regenerate the train station, we’ll be kick-starting the stalled Kimmerfields scheme, and we are engaging with creative partners to breathe new life into Fleet Street and Bridge Street.
And I also can’t wait to see the old dingy bus station demolished because, for too long, it has sent out the wrong message to residents, shoppers and visitors alike. It’s been a positive start, but there is still lots of work to do.”
