A look into the future plans for the Swindon College site 

It's eight storeys high, and if it all goes to plan it's set to come tumbling down.

The old Swindon College building in Regent Circus - which was the home to generations of students since the 1960s until last year when it closed - is all set to be flattened and turned into Swindon's new 'cultural quarter'.

All change: the former Swindon College site in Regent Circus (above) - and what it may look like in the future, planning permission allowing

A plan part of the redevelopment programme of prime town centre sites orchestrated by The New Swindon Company.

The developers behind the college scheme being Nickolas Scott, of Parkridge Developments, and Andrew Fisher, of Ashfield Land - both of whom see the project as a way of breathing new life into an area often described as 'the link between new town and old town'.

Making plans: Andrew Fisher (l) from Ashfield Land and Nick Scott from Parkridge Developments

"We are delighted to have bought the site," said Mr Scott, "one that is very much a key part of Swindon."

"There's huge potential here, especially with the new library under construction and new plans for the Wyvern Theatre.

"Our plan is to create a place for people to meet and enjoy the cultural facilities on offer."

Once completed, it is hoped Regent Circus, including the surface car park to the front of the main building, will include new restaurants, bars, a cinema, and a hotel all set around a new square linking back to the town centre.

The whole area itself becoming more pedestrian friendly, with traffic for the new development being routed via Victoria Road.

A glimpse into the future: an artist impression to how the college site will look

"What we are trying to do is create the heart that has been missing," commented Andrew Fisher, Managing Director Ashfield Land, "we don't want people to have to drive out of town to go shopping, we want to bring people back into the centre."

History preserved

One building that will not be disappearing from the Swindon skyline, however, is the oldest part of Swindon College - the historic technical college, first built in 1895.

The Technical College: now (above) and in the future (below)

and as it was circa. 1900 (below)

Plans for this building - which contain a number of unique arte2facts chronicling Swindon's history (see below) - include altering the interior and front facade to incorporate a downstairs supermarket and upper floor office space.

 

The memorial stone in the former main hall of Swindon Technical College (above) and the stained glass window commemorating Swindon College's sacrifice in the Great War (below)