The Long Overdue Overhaul of Swindon Town Centre

As large market towns go, Swindon is certainly up there as one of the most discussed and well known.

Whilst there are undoubtedly plenty of nice places to live in and around the area, it's fair to say that the town centre itself has been in need of some "tlc" for a while now. Thankfully, it appears that the council have listened to residents' pleas and there are now plans on the table to spend around £300m in order to transform the town centre and bring it in line with modern day shopping habits. With this in mind, below is a quick summation of what we can expect to see within the town centre in the next few years if all goes to plan.

The Redevelopment of Kimmerfields

At the heart of the council's plans is the central business area of Kimmerfields. After insurance giant Zurich eventually build their headquarters on the site, Swindon Borough Council plan to buy the building and lease it back to the company. It's estimated that Zurich will be fully operational on the site by 2022, with the rest of Kimmerfields expected to be apportioned to retail, housing, a hotel and office accommodation.

 

 

 

 

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New Entertainment Opportunities

As well as the development of Kimmerfields, the Wyvern Threatre building is set to be knocked down to make room for a bigger theatre and the new Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Beyond this, a number of historical suggestions have pointed towards other new ventures, one being a new casino facility within the town centre district. At present, a bingo hall remains the only entertainment form of this kind but the rising popularity of live dealer casino blackjack and immersive roulette has seen an increased demand for more brick and mortar casino establishments. Whilst the exact future of the site is not yet known, a casino would certainly be a welcome addition to the town centre.

 

 

 

 

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Snoasis

It's fair to say that a big part of the success of the regeneration of Swindon town centre relies on the success of the soon to be built indoor ski centre. Dubbed as "Snoasis", the centre is constructed on derelict land across the road from the Oasis centre in North Star. As well as a ski slope, "Snoasis" will be home to the largest IMAX screen in the UK, as well as a bowling alley, trampoline centre, bars and restaurants. Work on the project is scheduled to start this summer and is expected to be complete sometime around 2021. With an estimated £270m going into "Snoasis" alone, there is a real sense that this is make of break for Swindon town centre and it will be interesting to see how events develop over the course of the next few years.

The Next Few Years Are Crucial For Swindon

Residents of Swindon will no doubt be delighted that their town is finally getting the overhaul it has required for a number of years. With concrete plans in place, the future looks good for the centre and if all goes well, Swindon will be almost unrecognisable by around 2022. However, the notoriously transient nature of council planning and funding means that it won't hurt to keep your fingers crossed that everything goes to plan. If it does, Swindon could once again be the leading entertainment and leisure hub in the area.