Council leader David Renard column

We’re now exactly a month away from the full closure of Fleming Way on 4 September, to enable the next phase of the major upgrade work.

Known as the ‘bus boulevard’, that description probably doesn’t do justice to the project’s significance to the wider regeneration of the town centre.

Upgrading this key gateway and improving connectivity will help to stimulate further investment in the town centre, by increasing land values and making it more attractive for investors to bring forward new homes, offices, shops and leisure facilities. 

It forms part of over £100 million of Council-led investment in town centre projects over the next three years to upgrade transport links, the public realm, heritage assets and catalyse the regeneration of a 20-acre site next to Zurich’s new offices.

These will all help to create Swindon’s town centre as a place for people to socialise, shop, work and live where people can set up homes and businesses, stay longer, spend more and keep coming back

Fleming Way will see a new bus interchange, vastly improved public open spaces and new cycle lane facilities that link up the main cycling routes across the town. New trees and bee-friendly plants will help to create an attractive and welcoming environment.

Importantly for both residents and visitors, it will improve connectivity between the train station and the town centre, creating a safer, easier to understand route through our town centre

The subway will be removed to make the road the same level as the town centre shopping area and The Parade. The project is due to be completed in autumn 2024.

The lion’s share (£25 million) of the £33 million project costs were secured from central government, after it approved a business case submitted by the Council.

Two further public drop-in events are taking place next week at The Community Hub on The Parade in the town centre on Tuesday, 9 August and Thursday, 11 August at 11am to 3pm. You can find the latest on the plans and how journeys will be affected while the improvements are made.

I will be meeting with the Project Team on site this week to see how our investment is progressing. A scheme of this size requires a lot of work and I am proud of our officers for getting us to this crucial phase of the development.

You can also check our website for the latest on the project and sign-up for a dedicated newsletter: www.swindon.gov.uk/flemingwayimprovements