News
Plans to revitalise Swindon received a major boost today with the appointment of AMEC Developments Limited as the preferred development partner for The Exchange regeneration area. The selection was made by The New Swindon Company (TNSC), along with its partners, South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), national regeneration agency English Partnerships (EP) and Swindon Borough Council (SBC).
The AMEC proposals will transform The Exchange into a fully mixed use scheme incorporating high-quality and well designed buildings and public spaces which will reflect the importance of the town centre and its location. AMECs innovative design proposals will significantly enhance the vitality in the town creating a real 18 hour urban culture ensuring that it becomes a destination of choice for workers, shoppers and families. The design also improves permeability and retains good access to the towns heritage.
Whilst the design is an evolving process The Exchange is likely to feature a substantially sized public open square surrounded by 25,000sq m of retail and leisure space, a 13,000 sq m hotel, a new bus interchange, 55,000 sq m of office space and 450 residential units, 30% of which will be affordable. Transportation has also been an important consideration in the design with 1300 car parking spaces and the removal of Fleming Way and Whalebridge Roundabout which will be turned into a much more pedestrian friendly road system with access for public transportation.
The AMEC team, working with The New Swindon Company will commence work straight away on the masterplan for the site with a view of making a planning application later in the summer. At the same time an agreement will be completed which will form the legal basis for the development. With a development of this magnitude construction will be phased over the next eight to ten years. Phase 1 is likely to start early 2008 with the road re-alignment and enabling works taking place as well as construction of some pre-let offices and shops plus speculatively built apartments and offices.
AMEC development plans will be funded by Morley Fund Management, a City based financial institution. The professional team will be led by Benoys Architects acting as masterplanners and lead consultants, Arup as structural and civil engineers and Whitmarsh Lockhart, a local Swindon company, acting as commercial property consultants.
AMEC and Morley have been operating at the cutting edge of urban regeneration and commercial development for the past 25 years. They have worked extensively in partnership with local authorities, funding institutions, government agencies, land owners and major occupiers, using their skills base to deliver major mixed-use developments in towns and cities throughout the UK with recently completed developments at St Pauls Square in Liverpool and Smithfield in Manchester.
Peter James, Chief Executive of The New Swindon Company is now tasked, along with SWRDA, EP, SBC and AMEC to transform the proposals for The Exchange into a detailed project plan that will over the next year result in physical construction starting to happen. A lot of hard work has been done by everyone involved with the selection process, including all of the developers who were shortlisted. The decision to go with AMEC was an extremely difficult process as the creativity, quality and standard of all the proposals were world class. With AMEC we are confident that Swindon will get a fantastic well designed, quality development that will bring vitality and vibrancy to the town centre.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Roderick Bluh, is really excited with the proposed development, I am thrilled that the regeneration is now progressing with great momentum, with recent announcements we are moving into delivery mode which will start to see some physical changes in the town centre.
David Warburton, Area Director at English Partnerships said, The Exchange is one of seven regeneration areas that will dramatically improve Swindon town centre and make it more appealing for people who live and work here, as well as visitors. The highly experienced AMEC team shares our aspirations for this site and were looking forward to delivering a first-rate development in collaboration with all the partners.
Ian Piper, Director of Sustainable Communities for the South West of England Regional Development Agency, said: This announcement further demonstrates the commitment of a range of partners involved to ensuring a vibrant future for Swindon town centre. The South West RDA is delighted to be working closely with The New Swindon Company and others to bring greater economic vitality to this area that will serve Swindon and the wider region for many years to come.
Wednesday 17th January 2007