No demolition plan just yet for college building (From Swindon Advertiser)

So another case of everyone sitting around blaming each other while nothing gets done. Nice to know that Mr James is currently bugging the developers for a name, best to get the priorities out of the way first.

Unbelievable.

Turn it into a Hotel and demolish the one down the road - you know the ugly overbearing monstosity that's opening today.

Seriously though this whole issue has become a farce - unfortunately the credit crunch came along and has taken the blame, undeservedly in my opinion!

I wonder if the site could have been used for educational purposes, ooh I dunno like a location for a university building...

Talking of Universities, BBC Points West was very interesting the other day. UWE will almost double the size of it's Frenchay campus. Will Swindon and Coate just get Bristol's unwanted leftovers I wonder?

"250-flat residential skyscraper will go ahead"

And when it does, Swindon's central road network will completely fall over for around three hours per day.

According to government figures, 250 flats will mean an additional 500 cars, directly in the town centre. Most of which will be trying to leave between 7.30 and 9am and returning between 5.30 and 7pm.

And, because it's centrally located, the road system cannot be increased or enhanced.

A disaster awaits.

Mr Blackwell wrote:
"250-flat residential skyscraper will go ahead"

And when it does, Swindon's central road network will completely fall over for around three hours per day.

According to government figures, 250 flats will mean an additional 500 cars, directly in the town centre. Most of which will be trying to leave between 7.30 and 9am and returning between 5.30 and 7pm.

And, because it's centrally located, the road system cannot be increased or enhanced.

A disaster awaits.

It actually says it's unlikely to go ahead with the flats.
Sign of the times that a place of learning is being replaced by a supermarket and cinema - oh well.

Why don't we name the site after Peter James?

That way the continuing eyesore, which will remain the for next few years, will be a fitting legacy for all that this man has done for the town.

A bit like Ground Zero in NYC, the Peter James Memorial Square. RIP.

What do you all think?

Personally I think it is very sad that this Town has sunk to the level we see today.

Mostly due to a lack of vision - That is why I believe the Town Centre planning should start again from a blank piece of paper whilst there is still chance to recover.

The planning should of course take into consideration the remainder of the Town as it is today and also the new planned estates and outlying villages (inc Wootton Bassett) which will be swallowed by Swindon within 50 years.

The main aspect to any plan would have to be provision of main communication routes (roads, tramways, canal)- Plan now for the next 50 years not just the working life of the people who are currently making these short sighted decisions.

One thing that will never go away is the need for people to travel from place to place - bus lanes & high car park charges only worsens the problem whilst bus companies & SBC only profit - short term solutions for a long term problem.

mr_fix_it wrote:

Mr Blackwell wrote: "250-flat residential skyscraper will go ahead" And when it does, Swindon's central road network will completely fall over for around three hours per day. According to government figures, 250 flats will mean an additional 500 cars, directly in the town centre. Most of which will be trying to leave between 7.30 and 9am and returning between 5.30 and 7pm. And, because it's centrally located, the road system cannot be increased or enhanced. A disaster awaits.

It actually says it's unlikely to go ahead with the flats. Sign of the times that a place of learning is being replaced by a supermarket and cinema - oh well.

Technically, it's not replacing the place of learning, because the place of learning has relocated. And it's seeking to expand. And I thought the town centre craved a cinema, so what's the big problem?

Who cares anymore, to be honest. It wont get built, just like all the other half-baked plans the NSC has developed.

Don't worry, we've got a shiny new Jury's Inn now. Job done.

Unfortunately when you build expectation on a foundation of sand, it soon disappears.

I don't quite know whether our Councillors and Officers are naive, stupid or just plain gullible. It was not rocket science to work out nothing was going to happen for years in Swindon. There simply isn't any funds available for speculative building, and we know no one is buying the new houses, except housing associations.

Employment is falling rapidly and there is probably more to come.

Optimism is one thing being delusional is quite another.

Janais is back wrote:
Personally I think it is very sad that this Town has sunk to the level we see today. Mostly due to a lack of vision - That is why I believe the Town Centre planning should start again from a blank piece of paper whilst there is still chance to recover. The planning should of course take into consideration the remainder of the Town as it is today and also the new planned estates and outlying villages (inc Wootton Bassett) which will be swallowed by Swindon within 50 years. The main aspect to any plan would have to be provision of main communication routes (roads, tramways, canal)- Plan now for the next 50 years not just the working life of the people who are currently making these short sighted decisions. One thing that will never go away is the need for people to travel from place to place - bus lanes & high car park charges only worsens the problem whilst bus companies & SBC only profit - short term solutions for a long term problem.

More nonsense. The town hasn't had a lack of vision - it's had too much vision. The problem is that there isn't a shared vision that everyone pulls towards.

It would be lovely to start from a blank sheet of paper, but impossible. You never start from a blank sheet of paper - again, another very challenging part of planning and developing anything.

And long term planning has been done for years - its just very hard to predict what the next fifty years will bring in terms of technological advance. Can you name any fifty year plan from the last century that's been in any way accurate?

seems to me it can only create traffic problems--loss of another car park-and with bars too--does that mean we will have the same levels of violence as at the bar area of town with the heavy handed bully boy police--or their revenue collecting buddies who are accuser--judge--jury and executioner--if you dont agree then they lock you up.Innocent until proved guilty is the principle of our law--really?????

Bobfm wrote:
Unfortunately when you build expectation on a foundation of sand, it soon disappears. I don't quite know whether our Councillors and Officers are naive, stupid or just plain gullible. It was not rocket science to work out nothing was going to happen for years in Swindon. There simply isn't any funds available for speculative building, and we know no one is buying the new houses, except housing associations. Employment is falling rapidly and there is probably more to come. Optimism is one thing being delusional is quite another.

Quite a few of the new built properties have been turned down by Housing associations because they aren't good enough quality. that's encouraging.

The problem is the lack of co-ordination. All the planning choices are made by private companies. They all have the same view. get hold of a site, build some flats, restaurants, shops and a big feature like a cinema and make quick money, bish, bash bosh!

This simplistic approach means no co-ordination, no planning, no consideration of transport needs and worst of all, no real jobs.

You can't have an economy based on selling stuff to each other. Sooner or later someone has to make something.

Bobfm, South Marston says "I don't quite know whether our Councillors and Officers are naive, stupid or just plain gullible."

All three I suggest

If you read this article from PropertyWeek.com it explains how Andrew Fisher who is the head of Ashfield land - the developers of the site have bought this site on the cheap and aim to make a fast buck. Please read. It makes a mockery out of SBC.

http://www.propertyw
eek.com/story.asp?se
ctioncode=39&storyco
de=3134430

Quite staggering:

This means that Ashfield can develop land that once seemed to be a bargain purchase and now seems a fairer reflection of the market.

This is best demonstrated on the site of Swindon College at Regent Circus in Swindon. Ashfield is about to sign an agreement for an eight-screen multiplex, rumoured to be a Vue, a supermarket, believed to be a Morrisons, and a budget hotel in the £50m scheme.

But the cheeky twist to Regent Circus is that Ashfield has avoided the inconvenience of having to develop a 17-storey residential tower.

Speaking from Ashfield’s Bristol office in a converted townhouse in Berkeley Square, Fisher makes such a radical concession from Swindon Borough Council sound easy.

He reveals: ‘We had 265 flats included in the scheme – and they have disappeared completely. We have persuaded the planning authorities that the scheme wasn’t viable with the residential included.’

When asked what will replace the tower, Fisher replies: ‘Fresh air.’

He adds that some day, the tower’s footprint could accommodate a leisure box to house whatever indoor games or sports are in vogue.

Regent Circus demonstrates how Ashfield’s patience paid off. After Swindon College relocated, it accepted conditional offers from developers who came and went for three years, before Ashfield’s unconditional offer was accepted in 2006.

Fisher says: ‘We probably paid 30% less than the college had originally accepted. The college had relied on conditional offers and pressed ahead, thus leaving itself a little exposed when the parties pulled out.’

trustnopolitician wrote:
Bobfm, South Marston says "I don't quite know whether our Councillors and Officers are naive, stupid or just plain gullible." All three I suggest

Works both ways. We voted for them (or abstained and allowed them to be voted in). I'd suggest the voting public fall into all three categories too.

Instead of building yet another eyesore in the centre of Swindon, why don't the Developers refurbish the stunning old college building as a high-class residential/commerci
al space, and use the site of the monstrous 1960's college building for car parking behind it. A stylish plaza with outdoor cafes would also add a touch of class to what is at present a dreary and ugly part of town.

Lady Of The Manor wrote:
Instead of building yet another eyesore in the centre of Swindon, why don't the Developers refurbish the stunning old college building as a high-class residential/commerci al space, and use the site of the monstrous 1960's college building for car parking behind it. A stylish plaza with outdoor cafes would also add a touch of class to what is at present a dreary and ugly part of town.

Go and look at the plans before commenting. You just described the application. Doh!