Fleming Way improvements
Creating a vibrant future for Swindon town centre will require the combined effort of the private, public and voluntary sectors.
That's why a new draft document - ‘Heart of Swindon’ - has been produced to mobilise effort and guide the future investment needed to help the town centre transition from a past dominated by retail, to a future destination where people live, work, socialise and study.
A key project for the heart of Swindon is the Council-led major upgrade and transformation of Fleming Way as the main gateway to the town centre. For both residents and visitors, the £33 million investment will improve connectivity between the train station and the town centre, creating a safer, and easier to understand route through the town centre.
The scheme involves:
- building a new bus interchange to accommodate all bus services in the town centre replacing the ageing current 1960s bus station
- creating vastly improving public open spaces including over 100 mixed hedgerow bee-friendly plants, plus hundreds more shrubs along the central reservation that will also form part of the scheme’s drainage system
- introducing new cycle lane facilities that connect the town’s western and eastern cycle flyers
It is estimated the improvements will increase surrounding land values by an estimated £34 million, making it more attractive for investors to bring forward new homes, offices, shops and leisure facilities.
The Government committed £25 million in funding to the project, after reviewing a robust business case that demonstrated how it would kick-start wider benefits to the town centre and increase Swindon’s economic productivity by £28.7 million over the first 20 years.
The improvements have already been credited by Zurich as one of the main reasons it opted to remain in Swindon in its recently-built Grade A offices, Unity Place, and why FI Real Estate Management invested £7 million upgrading its offices at 1 Newbridge Square.
The current target completion date for the project is Autumn 2025.
This video gives an aerial overview of the key improvements:
Before and after images looking towards Zurich’s new ‘Unity Place’ building:
Read the frequently asked questions about the Fleming Way improvements and the impact on journeys from September 2022 or sign-up to the project newsletter for updates.