A £33 MILLION revamp of an historic town is set to be unveiled next month.
The revamp has transformed the town’s transport networks.
Swindon Borough CouncilThe £33 million development would improve bus routes on Fleming Way, Swindon[/caption]
Swindon Borough CouncilThe road is set to re-open in August, with bus routes starting on August 31[/caption]
Swindon Borough CouncilProposals included planting trees and bushes to increase biodiversity in the area[/caption]
It comes after the town was previously named among the worst places to live after it was branded a “gang capital”.
Development reveal
The investment has transformed Fleming Way in Swindon as it is turned into a new bus boulevard.
After three years of work, the fencing is set to come down from August 15.
Once the new transport hub is up and running, the existing bus station is set to be demolished.
Local bus companies will begin their services from Fleming Way from August 31.
As well as the new transport hub, the revamp brings a number of improvements to the area.
This includes new benches, bike racks and waste bins, in addition to more than 185 trees and 23,000 plants and bushes.
Planning proposals
A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said that there would also be new bus shelters to improve wheelchair accessibility.
The new shelters will also include wireless charging, digital screens that display up-to-date departure times, and solar panels.
A total of 27 new bus stops were planned in the proposal.
They said: “The new road will also create a better space for bus services around Swindon and the surrounding areas, as well as allow for national and inner-city routes.
“New cycle lanes have also been added, connecting the town’s two main cycle routes so cyclists can travel through Swindon or to the town centre.”
In previous planning proposals for the development, the council said it hoped to “help the town centre transition from a past dominated by retail, to a future destination where people live, work, socialise and study.”
It would make Fleming Way the “main gateway” for the town centre.
The development focused primarily on transport in the area, improving connectivity to the train station and creating a safer route throughout the town centre.
Improvements to the wider area
In addition to the improvements to transportation, the council estimated that it would increase surrounding land value by £34 million.
This in turn would bring more investors into the area, bringing new homes, offices, shops and leisure facilities for locals.
Funding for the project came in part from the Government, who supplied £25 million.
It was based on a proposal that demonstrated that the improvements would increase Swindon’s economic productivity by £28.7 million over the first 20 yearws.
The space freed up by the demolition of the bus station from the 1960s will be incorporated into the regeneration of a 20-acre site next to Zurich’s office building.
Proposals also included the removal of the Fleming Way subway to make the road the same level as the town centre shopping area and the parade.
Traffic lights have been installed to increase pedestrian safety.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
