Swindon Woolworths demolished to make way for redevelopment
A former Woolworths store in Swindon is being knocked down as part of a redevelopment project which is estimated to cost £25 million.
The store in Swindon town centre has started to be demolished so that a new Topshop and River Island can help to modernise the area with new retail amenities.
Although the project is mainly a retail development, the proposed size may make it appropriate for office space and at the moment there are still four units available to let.
Swindon Borough Council granted planning permission last May, and since then the property developers have begun to hire builders and demolition experts from the Lawson Group.
Martin Wilson, managing director for the Lawson group, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to undertake the demolition works at the store in Swindon. As a national company, we undertake a number of projects up and down the country but it is nonetheless always great to be involved in a local project that is part of such a positive development for Swindon.”
It is thought that the development will rejuvenate the area and as a result encourage other businesses to have stores and offices within Swindon.
Jeremy Sutton, a chartered surveyor in Swindon, said: “With the collapse of the Modus proposals for the town centre development this is exactly the good news that Swindon need.
Not only have we got the promise of a really good new store, the old iconic Woolworths building has got a new lease of life.”
The proposed stores will offer 10,000 sq ft of retail space for Topshop and 9,000 sq ft for River Island. It is thought that such large stores will set them apart and make them a leader within the Topshop and River Island chains.
The stores are scheduled to open later this year.