Plans to revitalise Swindon has received a major boost with the appointment of AMEC Developments 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.

AMEC’s 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 town’s heritage.

While the design is an evolving process The Exchange is likely to feature a substantially sized public open square surrounded by 25,000 sq 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 per cent 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.

The 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 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 Paul’s 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.”

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 we’re looking forward to delivering a first-rate development in collaboration with all the partners.”