Fleming Way underpass gone for good as town centre transformation continues

Part of town centre by Debenhams now looks very different as work continues on the Fleming Way 'bus boulevard' nearby.

The area directly outside the closed department store was fenced off last month as part of improvement works to install new paving and landscaping and planters that will be home to new plants and trees.

Before this, a large portion of the underpass was demolished in August of last year, with The Parade end on the retail side of remaining - until now.

New images taken this week show that the subway has been completely removed and the ground has been levelled out, revealing a full view of the Zurich headquarters.

It is hoped that these developments - part of a £33m scheme - will make the area more vibrant and a better place for residents and visitors to the town centre to enjoy and spend time.

A spokesperson for the Swindon Borough Council said: "Back in December 2020, the Government approved a thorough business case and agreed to pay 75 per cent of the costs of a major upgrade of Fleming Way, as the main gateway into Swindon town centre.

"The project is one part of the transformation of the area that will help to stimulate further investment in the town centre by increasing land values and making it more attractive for investors to bring forward new homes, offices, shops and leisure facilities.

"It has already been a catalyst for investment with Zurich pointing to the regeneration as a key reason why it wanted to build its new office block, Unity Place.

"FI Real Estate Management has also spent £7m upgrading its office block at the Tri-Centre, while plans to transform the former Debenhams store and Falcon House above it were influenced by the improvements currently taking place."

All of the shops in the area have remained open throughout this portion of work and access to the pedestrian route to the bus station has been maintained.

A total of 166 new trees and over 23,000 plants will be planted as part of the Fleming Way scheme, as well as new cycle lane facilities that link up the main cycling routes across the town.