‘This is the biggest development ever’

That’s the verdict of the council’s deputy leader, as plans for a wholesale revamp of the town centre get into gear.

As reported yesterday, work will soon start on the massive Union Square scheme – beginning by scrapping the Whale Bridge at the junction of Fleming Way, Corporation Street and Princes Street roundabout from the end of March.

But in spite of warnings about traffic chaos in the short-term, the council has defended the Union Square scheme as bringing unprecedented investment to the town centre.

At an estimated £350m, Union Square will be even bigger than the now-defunct Modus scheme, which had proposed to bring a £250m retail complex to the Havelock Street area.

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms), cabinet member for economics and deputy leader, said: “It’s great, the fact this development is going ahead in spite of the economic state of the country.

“It’s a lot bigger than Modus. That was purely a shopping development. This isn’t. This is an office regeneration. There will be shopping in it, but not to compete with the town centre.

“It will uplift the town centre completely.

“It’s the biggest development there’s ever been in Swindon. Seriously.

“But it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Councillors have voiced fears that by rushing ahead with the removal of Whale Bridge roundabout, it will drive heavy traffic off main roads and down the back streets of Broadgreen.

But council leader Rod Bluh (Con, Dorcan), has hit back at critics.

“You can’t do a wholesale transformation of the town centre without causing any disruption,” he said.

“It goes with the territory. No gain without pain.

“There will be disruption, but it’s positive disruption.

“We’re constantly being told that regeneration isn’t happening fast enough. And then when we do get moving they say it’s happening too fast. It’s time for people to make up their minds.”

The Whale Bridge scheme will see the roundabout demolished and replaced with bus routes and one-way systems.

It is to help kick-start Phase One of Union Square – the building of 84 homes on the site of the old police station nearby, as well as a multi-storey car park and offices.

To be built by developer Muse, the whole scheme will eventually take in the area from Jurys Inn to Manchester Road, and west to Milford Street.

Once further phases are complete, up to 450 homes will be created in the area, 150,000 sq ft of retail space, and 650,000 sq ft of office space.

The land it is built on is owned by the council and government agencies, and the council’s regeneration wing Forward Swindon, is helping push the project through.

Asked if there’s actually enough demand to warrant such a huge investment, development director Chris Hitchings said: “It’s like that film with Kevin Costner – build it and they will come.

“There is demand out there, but we’ve got to make the circumstances right for people to be in the town centre.”

Blueprints for the whole scheme, which will take up to 10 years to complete, will be on show at the Central Library in Regent Circus on March 4 and 5.