Muse Developments has revealed details of the second stage of Swindon’s Kimmerfields scheme — the town’s biggest makeover in more than half-a-century.
The company, backed by landowner Homes and Communities Agency, has already completed the first phase of the project with the construction of a £15m 850-space multi-storey car park and a 45-apartment building. The second stage, based around Fleming Way, will now add a 20-acre business district to the £350m scheme.
Led by Forward Swindon on behalf of Swindon Borough Council, the commercial development will offer 600,000 sq ft of badly need Grade A office space at a time when the town’s property agents fear the central area is running out of top-quality business accommodation. There will also be 100,000 sq ft of retail and leisure-related space located around a number of new streets and public open spaces.
Ian Piper is chief executive of Forward Swindon. “The town centre is split in two by Fleming Way, making access to shopping and social facilities difficult for workers and visitors,” he explained. “By removing this physical barrier, we will make Swindon town centre a more vibrant and attractive place to work and visit.”
The latest stage of the regeneration programme is intended to merge the business and social areas of Swindon into a single, accessible and attractive zone. “Thriving town centres boost the local economy and increase the region’s prosperity,” commented Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council cabinet member for economy, regeneration and culture “This project will help to realise our vision for Swindon as an attractive place to live and work in today’s 21st century world.”
With London’s commercial property market already starting to overheat and rents soaring in towns along the M4 corridor, “Swindon’s time had come,” claimed Muse’s joint managing director, Nigel Franklin.
“This project will put the heart back into Swindon town centre and will, once more, make the town a real competitor,” said Franklin.
Kimmerfields Phase Two will coincide with development of Swindon’s long-awaited cultural quarter around the town’s Wyvern Theatre and follows the completion of a new entertainment, leisure and retail centre at Regent Circus.
The area being transformed was once the town’s Union Square. The name was changed by Muse to Kimmerfields because of other conflicting Union Square schemes in the UK. Design changes to the original blueprint also meant that the name “square” no longer reflected the plans.
