News
The New Swindon Company has today announced a shortlist of major developers for the £300 million, 17.5 acre mixed-use town centre site in Swindon - The Exchange. The shortlist comprises Amec, Akeler, Blackfriars Investments Ltd , CTP St James, and Eastcott Regeneration Partnership.
The companies selected have established track records of delivering large regeneration projects and have demonstrated that they have the imagination and expertise to deliver significant benefits for Swindon.
The shortlist was developed from a long list of nine submissions from regeneration specialists and property developers. A preferred developer will be announced before the end of 2006. The New Swindon Company is coordinating the regeneration of the area alongside its partners national regeneration agency English Partnerships, South West of England Regional Development Agency and Swindon Borough Council.
Discussing the shortlist, Peter James, Chief Executive of the New Swindon Company said: "The proposals from the short listed companies offer a range of exciting options for The Exchange that will dramatically improve the town centre. Each would integrate well with the existing town and help to create a sustainable, vibrant and well constructed environment which will benefit the people and businesses of Swindon."
He added "The short listed companies are all established names in the industry and have proven track records in delivering major projects such as The Exchange. It is extremely pleasing, although not surprising, that companies of this calibre want to be involved in the regeneration of Swindon. With its desirable location, within easy reach of London, a booming economy and the focus of major regeneration, Swindon is set to become an investment hotspot in the coming years."
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 Exchange has provision for up to 160,000 sq m of high quality accommodation, which could comprise:
- 60,000 sq m of B1 offices
- 400 residential units
- 40,000 sq m of retail / bars and leisure facilities
- a 200 bed hotel
Additional Information
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
The regeneration credentials of the short listed companies include:
- Amec short listed for Swindon's Granville Street development and involved in regeneration projects including Newcastle's Quayside and Lewisham Gateway
- Akeler currently leading the masterplanning and delivery of significant mixed use schemes in Aberdeen, London, Manchester and Glasgow
- Blackfriars delivered the prestigious Palestra development in Southwark
- CTP St James short listed for the Granville Street project and selected as development partners by Sheffield City Council for the St Pauls Place development
- Eastcott involved in the Barnsley Markets Town Centre Redevelopment and Edinburgh Park, Scotland's largest business park
Thursday 20th July 2006