News

Expressions of interest sought for major £300 million redevelopment opportunity in Swindon

The New Swindon Company, with its funding partners, is today advertising for a Development Partner for The Exchange - a major mixed-use development opportunity within Swindon's town centre.

The Exchange is one of seven regeneration areas within the town centre and lies between the railway station and the central business district. It covers 17.54 acres and represents a £300 million development opportunity, one of the largest town centre developments to come to market in the South West.

The New Swindon Company, with its partners - English Partnerships, South West of England Regional Development Agency and Swindon Borough Council - is seeking expressions of interest from developers with the skills, ingenuity and capacity for this significant opportunity. Copies of The Exchange brochure along with the Expression of Interest/Pre-qualification Questionnaire are available on request from CB Richard Ellis on 020 7182 2000.

The Exchange has provision for up to 160,000 sq m of high quality accommodation, which could comprise:

60,000 sq m of B1 offices
300 - 400 residential units
40,000 sq m of retail / bars and leisure facilities
a 200 bed hotel

The masterplan for The Exchange also calls for:

a quality mixed-use development with innovative parking solutions
an attractive mix of streets, boulevards and open spaces
links between The Exchange with the main retail area
improvements to the streets and new open spaces, particularly the project area known as The Arena
a new bus interchange, replacing the current facility, which will be demolished
appropriate car parking, with the current multi-storey car park being demolished

Discussing The Exchange, Peter James, Chief Executive of The New Swindon Company said: "The Exchange is an extremely exciting opportunity, both for a developer and for Swindon. We are now looking for an experienced partner with a track record of delivering high quality redevelopments. Swindon has a booming economy and The Exchange will help to provide the quality offices that companies need along with new homes and improved retail and leisure facilities to meet market demand."

Monday 27th March 2006