Regeneratiom work begins at The Parade

The next phase in the Fleming Way scheme has begun at The Parade, outside the old Debenhams building.

All shops will remain open and accessible throughout the works, and access to the pedestrian route to the bus station will be maintained at all times.

Enhancing the public open space around Fleming Way is a major part of the ongoing improvements, which will create a new public transport hub and improved cycling facilities.

When complete, new paving and landscaping will be installed, including planters that will be home to new plants and trees. The intension is to make the area more vibrant and a better place for residents and visitors to the town centre to enjoy and spend time in.

A total of 166 new trees and over 23,000 plants will be planted as part of the Fleming Way scheme, and there will be new cycle lane facilities that link up the main cycling routes across the town.

In December 2020 the Government approved a thorough business case and agreed to pay 75 per cent of the costs of a major upgrade of Fleming Way, as the main gateway into Swindon town centre.

The project is one part of the transformation of the area, intended to stimulate further investment in the town centre by increasing land values and making it more attractive for investors to bring forward new homes, offices, shops and leisure facilities.

It has already been a catalyst for investment, with Zurich pointing to the regeneration as a key reason why it wanted to build its new office block, Unity Place.

FI Real Estate Management has also spent £7m upgrading its office block at the Tri-Centre, while plans to transform the former Debenhams store and Falcon House above it were influenced by the improvements currently taking place.