PREPARATION work for the ambitious new £33 million 'bus boulevard' on Fleming Way is in full swing.

The last two months have seen contractors and Swindon Borough Council get the area ready to be transformed.

The first phase of the project has seen the demolition of the Parade multi-storey car park behind H&M by Swindon-based demolition specialist Lawson Group which is on track to be completed by the middle of December.

Construction is slated to begin in spring next year and should be finished by autumn 2024.

The full scheme involves building a new bus interchange along Fleming Way and adding new routes for pedestrians and cyclists which should better connect the town centre’s shopping area with the railway station and the business districts to the north of the main road.

These major changes aim to help increase land values in the area to attract new private investment in the town centre which could bring new amenities, homes and jobs to Swindon’s centre.

Though the council owns very little of the land in the town centre and does not control the price of business rates and most rents, the local authority says this project will have a big impact on improving the public realm and making the centre of Swindon much easier to access and move around.

Council leader David Renard visited the site of the newly-demolished car park with Coun Gary Sumner earlier this week to see how things were progressing.

He said: “We know that securing the town centre’s position as a place people choose to live, work and visit requires the collective effort of private and public sector organisations working together, including landowners, developers, local and central government.

“This significant investment to create a new transport interchange forms part of over £100 million of council-led investment in town centre projects over the next four years. 

“The bus boulevard will transform connectivity between the train station and the town centre to create a safer and easier to understand route for visitors.”

Find out more about the project and wider town centre regeneration by visiting www.swindon.gov.uk/towncentreregeneration