Demolition begins at leisure hub opened in 2014

3 hours ago

Kirsten RobertsonWiltshire, Swindon

News image — Workers were seen at the former Morrisons at Regent Circus on Monday

BBC Two men in high-vis tops and wearing safety helmets stand on a cherry-picker by a wall which is being knocked down — Workers were seen at the former Morrisons at Regent Circus on Monday

Demolition work has begun on a retail and leisure complex that was built just over a decade ago.

Regent Circus opened in Swindon at a cost of £50m in 2014, featuring a selection of restaurants, a cinema and a supermarket.

After the centre lost all its tenants except for Nandos, Swindon Borough Council approved developer MCR Property Group's plan to demolish the building ahead of a potential residential development.

Work started on Monday with builders seen removing panels from inside the former Morrisons supermarket and beginning to knock down its exterior wall.

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Swindon resident Jonathan Mills, 53, said he had witnessed a similar sight back in 2012 when the former Swindon college was knocked down to make space for Regent Circus.

He added: "I stood here in exactly the same place 10 years ago watching them knock down Swindon college. Now they are knocking down this quite nice building after 10 years of use."

Angela Cooper, 60, said she used to visit Regent Circus to go to the cinema or do her shopping at Morrisons.

"They should keep it for the community. We don't need more flats or houses in town," she added.

Man looking serious with a building behind him and fences on the pavement near by. He is wearing a rucksack with the straps joined in front of him and is wearing a blue jumper with red and white horizontal stripes — Resident Jonathan Mills said he had watched the previous building on the site be demolished

Council leader Jim Robbins said it had been clear Regent Circus did not work "in its current form" and that he "hopes to work positively" with MCR on a plan which benefits local people.

"They clearly have new ideas on what they want to do with the building and they are determined to drive that forward," he said. "We're really interested to see what their plan is when they come forward with a new planning application."

Robbins added there is "still a housing crisis" within the UK with a need for residential plans.

A spokesperson for MCR Property Group said: "We understand that Regent Circus is a familiar part of the town centre for many people and that change can feel significant, particularly when buildings have been part of people's routines and experiences.

"However, town centres across the UK are evolving, and it has become clear that the existing scheme at Regent Circus is no longer aligned with how people use town centres today. The level of vacancy and changes in occupancy reflect that shift."

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