THE developer set to transform central Swindon has redrafted its plans, and junked the idea of a cinema and art gallery.

Modus has been tasked with drawing up regeneration proposals for Regent Place - the site around the Granville car park.

When initially announced the developers said the site would be home to 300,000sq ft of retail space, a hotel, 250 apartments and a 900-space car park.

It was also to accommodate a cinema and art gallery. And last year Debenhams announced it was planning to shift its store to the new look development.

But because Swindon Council is in talks with other firms on other regeneration schemes for the town centre, Modus has been forced to rethink some of its plans and dump the cinema idea.

Instead a multiscreen cinema will be provided at the nearby former college site, also being developed. No new home has yet been found for the art gallery.

"Despite these changes this is still a transformational project," said councillor Phil Young, cabinet member for economic regeneration.

"And it is one which, when complete, will turn around the decay that Swindon has suffered over the last 20 years.

"And there will still be a cinema. It will be in Regent Circus, development of which started recently.

"I can understand people saying there are too many flats and homes in the town centre - but providing those homes has been ordered by regional planners and is out of our hands."

The new proposals, which will be debated by councillors on the planning committee on Tuesday, now include plans for 55,000sq m of retail space, 387 homes, 880 underground parking spaces and a new residential tower will be built to replace Aspen house, which will be demolished.

When finished the new tower will come close to matching the height of the David Murray John tower.

There will also be a new central square create between Havelock Square and Regent Street and the much loved Baptist Tabernacle stones will be reinstated on a building created on Regent Street.

The new hotel, community room' and food hall will also be created.

Neal Dale, development director of Modus, said: "The changes we have made to the plans were forced on us.

"But we have moved with those new requirements and kept the scheme moving forward.

"And we are still determined to get working onsite as quickly as possible.

"Hopefully these outline plans will get the nod and we can begin on site next year, and then open by 2011."