Swindon town centre car park project hits new heights

8:00pm Wednesday 30th January 2013 in Latest News

The building work at Union Square takes shape The building work at Union Square takes shape

THE development of a £15m town centre car park is on track.

Swindon Council gave the go-ahead last October to buy the land, which is part of the town’s regeneration plans.

The 850-space car park is being built on the site of the former police station in Islington Street and is already beginning to tower above the Magistrates Court next door.

Councillors believe it will be a moneyspinner in less than 10 years and in the longer term, the council would be looking to reduce the number of existing, outdated car parks, replacing them with high-quality facilities within future regeneration schemes.

The project, which is part of the Union Square development and is being overseen by Forward Swindon, is said to be running on schedule and could be completed by the end of the summer.

A spokesman for the Forward Swindon said: “The work is going well and will be nearing completion around the end of the summer – assuming we don’t have the same kind of weather as last year.”

Forward Swindon has played a major role in regenerating Swindon’s town centre and aim to create a vibrant environment that attracts visitors, draws businesses and creates employment.

The Canal Walk and Regent Street projects have regenerated major areas of Swindon's shopping centre.

Forward Swindon were behind the regeneration project of Swindon’s station forecourt last year which was delivered two months late as a result of wet weather last summer.

Comments(23)

house on the hill says...
9:35pm Wed 30 Jan 13

It is just a shame that no one actually wants to come into town anymore! What a complete waste of money.

Report this post »

Phantom Poster says...
11:03pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Article says:

"the council would be looking to reduce the number of existing, outdated car parks, replacing them with high-quality facilities"

So what will that involve? At the moment I just drive my car into a space in one of those 'outdated' car parks and leave it. It seems to totally fulfil my needs as regards parking a car!

Report this post »

greenpacer says...
11:05pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Oh how pretty, a multi-storey car park. I understand all the ground only car parks are to be built on. What about drivers who need a space for their high roof vans ? I am alright as mine is flat roof. It is only my stub of an aerial that hits the ceiling of a multi-storey ! No problem there.But what else have we got to look forward to with 21st century styling to attract visitors ?

Report this post »

twasadawf says...
11:12pm Wed 30 Jan 13

Big White Elephant

Report this post »

greenpacer says...
11:16pm Wed 30 Jan 13

I wish the council would use a bit of common sense with this de-tour around union square to Islington Street and on into Fleming Way . Should have left the roundabout there or traffic light controlled cross roads. I guess we won't be able to use the bus station hub part of Fleming Way at all one day ? Another de-tour ?

Report this post »

swindonman89 says...
1:32am Thu 31 Jan 13

if your coming from magic roundabout why not go county rd Manchester rd Milford st

Report this post »

TinkeyWinkey says...
7:05am Thu 31 Jan 13

Article saying - in the longer term, the council would be looking to reduce the number of existing, outdated car parks, replacing them with high-quality facilities within future regeneration schemes.


Surely that would be sooner rather than later!!! They won't leave a brand new "money spinning" car park empty whilst people carry on parking in other ones

Report this post »

Empty Car Park says...
9:17am Thu 31 Jan 13

£15MILLION!...err..
...bargain?

To be a "moneyspinner in less than ten years" this will have to make a LARGE PROFIT of well OVER£1.5million

Which "Councillors believe it will be a moneyspinner in less than 10 years"?

Let's hope this latest "vibrant" makes more profit than the wifi (£minus half million)

Let's hope this latest "vibrant" makes considerably more PROFIT than the Wichelstow infrastructure (£minus 45 million)

Which "spokesman for Forward Swindon" said "A spokesman for the Forward Swindon said: “The work is going well and will be nearing completion around the end of the summer – assuming we don’t have the same kind of weather as last year.”

Why does a spokesman for Forward Swindon have to remain anonymous?

Will there be any very expensive patios incorporated into the design, like the Station forecourt etc?

Report this post »

Empty Car Park says...
9:19am Thu 31 Jan 13

**To be a "moneyspinner in less than ten years" this will have to make a LARGE PROFIT of well OVER £1.5million every year

Report this post »

A.Baron-Cohen says...
9:29am Thu 31 Jan 13

There are already 2 important car parks in that area managed by the council.
I am struggling to understand the logic of adding a third....and how it can pay itself in 10 years while competing with the other 2 in the same vicinity.....

Report this post »

SomeoneWhoIsntMe says...
9:33am Thu 31 Jan 13

Completely possible! I mean, take the following equation:

(average cars per day x (average number of hours * average charge per hour)) * days open a year

then replace words with numbers like so:
(400 * (4 * 2)) * 360 = £1,152,000

Seems perfectly reasonable to think people might use it more if they close other car parks.

Report this post »

SomeoneWhoIsntMe says...
9:37am Thu 31 Jan 13

Couldn't this land be better suited as another HOTEL instead of a car park? Hahaha

Report this post »

StillPav says...
9:39am Thu 31 Jan 13

"The Canal Walk and Regent Street projects have regenerated major areas of Swindon's shopping centre."

I must have missed this?

Report this post »

Jiver says...
10:19am Thu 31 Jan 13

StillPav wrote:
"The Canal Walk and Regent Street projects have regenerated major areas of Swindon's shopping centre."

I must have missed this?
I missed it too.

Why do all these schemes seem to lose lots of money instead of making profit?

Yet somehow the town always looks worse or becomes less accessible every time

Report this post »

PaulD says...
10:20am Thu 31 Jan 13

if there is a more depressing sounding phrase than 'Swindon town centre car park project' then I doubt I will hear it today

Report this post »

Oldtownmum says...
10:22am Thu 31 Jan 13

Still won't make me want to visit town. I nipped in for an hour this morning and it's still full of screaming mothers shouting at their children. One in Primark couldn't give a monkeys who was listening to her screeching at a poor 3 year old. Another I passed shouted "idiot" loudly at her daughter for no apparent reason. Most of the other shoppers seemed to be in track suits or hoodies. I really hope the regeneration pulls in 'normal' people but it's probably too late. I won't be going in now for another few months. It's usually just for the building societies.

Report this post »

benzss says...
10:47am Thu 31 Jan 13

Oldtownmum wrote:
Still won't make me want to visit town. I nipped in for an hour this morning and it's still full of screaming mothers shouting at their children. One in Primark couldn't give a monkeys who was listening to her screeching at a poor 3 year old. Another I passed shouted "idiot" loudly at her daughter for no apparent reason. Most of the other shoppers seemed to be in track suits or hoodies. I really hope the regeneration pulls in 'normal' people but it's probably too late. I won't be going in now for another few months. It's usually just for the building societies.
"Most of the other shoppers seemed to be in track suits or hoodies."

So? Hoodies are comfortable, don't you know. I even wear mine around Old Town. Quick, get the pleb police!

Report this post »

Oldtownmum says...
11:25am Thu 31 Jan 13

benzss wrote:
Oldtownmum wrote:
Still won't make me want to visit town. I nipped in for an hour this morning and it's still full of screaming mothers shouting at their children. One in Primark couldn't give a monkeys who was listening to her screeching at a poor 3 year old. Another I passed shouted "idiot" loudly at her daughter for no apparent reason. Most of the other shoppers seemed to be in track suits or hoodies. I really hope the regeneration pulls in 'normal' people but it's probably too late. I won't be going in now for another few months. It's usually just for the building societies.
"Most of the other shoppers seemed to be in track suits or hoodies."

So? Hoodies are comfortable, don't you know. I even wear mine around Old Town. Quick, get the pleb police!
Ah, but do you bob along as you walk with your trousers hanging around your knees, head down, looking shifty? Or do you walk upright with purpose? If so, you're ok!

Report this post »

PJC says...
11:57am Thu 31 Jan 13

StillPav wrote:
"The Canal Walk and Regent Street projects have regenerated major areas of Swindon's shopping centre."

I must have missed this?
Yeah,exactly, they repaved it again and put lights in and some new benches....what I don't understand is why they focus on cosmetic things, rather than bringing in trade. Then there will be parking revenue. If there's nothing to come for, what's the point?

Report this post »

Davey Gravey says...
12:10pm Thu 31 Jan 13

As the Town grows we should be going the way of Oxford and creating decent park and ride facilities and trying to keep cars out of the centre.

Report this post »

lss11051981 says...
1:56pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Enough of all this car park nonsense. The only way the council can ensure people start coming back to the town centre is find a new developer to get back on track with the proposed 'Regent Place' development from 4 years ago.

Every building and retail unit in the town centre looks misplaced and out of touch with its concrete surroundings.

The Brunel centre will be 40 years old in a few years time. Lets knock it down along with the dirty Regetn street area and start again.

Report this post »

John Smith II says...
2:24pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Judging by the number of empty spaces in the car park on top of the bus station today, plus the fact that at least two decks of it are closed off (without any explanation), the demand to fill a further 850 spaces, even if all the ground level car parks are closed, is not going to come quickly.....

Report this post »

Tim Newroman says...
11:05am Fri 1 Feb 13

£15 million on a car park to serve the town centre shopping centre does seem rather pointless when far less than that has been spent on regenerating the town centre shopping area itself.

As others have pointed out, a car park is a place to leave your car. That's it. After six months they all smell of urine in any case.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree