Axe falls on £150m shops revamp

But the Capital and Investment Trust group (CIT), which bought the shopping centre for £130 million last month, now says the scheme is not viable and has dropped it.

A year ago the previous owners, Westfield, announced £150 million plans for a massive expansion and overhaul of the centre, but then put it on the market.

CIT asset manager Chris Orr said: "There was a general view that there is not a demand to support the size of the extension being proposed."

Mr Orr said Westfield had had difficulty getting an "anchor" store a major shop that would agree to come and encourage others in.

The Advertiser's Your Swindon Your Verdict questionnaire last month found that a third of the people who responded thought a better range of shops in the town centre would help the town most.

The decision has received a mixed response in the town.

New Swindon Company had regarded an expanded Brunel Centre as a central part of its plans for an improved and rebuilt town centre.

Its business development manager Rosemary Wells said: "Now we have clarity and it gives the opportunity to work to improve the retail on offer in the town centre.

"It's a commercial decision for CIT and because they are committed to this it will help to attract investors and increase confidence."

Dennis Grant, chief executive of the town's Chamber of Commerce, said: "At least the new plans are a step in the right direction.

"We lost out but we've found someone willing to come in and do something. Pie in the sky is great but that's gone. This scheme is more tangible and realistic."

Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) said: "It's disappointing. Obviously Westfield decided they wanted to exit Swindon and we have to accept that."

Stephen Reid, owner of the Brunel nightclub, said: "It's a shame the Westfield plan has fallen through, without doubt it would have benefited the town."

Carl Brown, landlord of the Mail Coach pub in Fleet Street, said he was disappointed. "The town centre needs a complete update," he said.

"It needs bringing into the 21st century, because it's such as mish-mash."

Some traders in the Brunel Centre believe it needs brightening up.

Steve Gale, manager of Timpson, thinks expansion would have enabled the town centre to compete with out-of-town shopping parks.

"Things aren't too good here at the moment," he said. "Everyone is going to Greenbridge."

Steph White, team leader at shoe store Clarks, said: "The centre is too basic and bland. Expansion might have encouraged more customers."

But some businesses are glad to see the back of Westfield. Geoff Sherwood, part-owner of Gangsters snooker and pool hall in Havelock Street, said Westfield's actions had a serious effect on his business.

He said the uncertainty of the future of the area led membership numbers to drop from 1,000 to 200.

"We aren't losing money," he said. "But it's left me with reduced trade. Now we've got to build it up and do the hard work all over again.

"Westfield are a ruthless business, but at least, like a couple of other people, I haven't moved on for nothing."

Paul Studholme, owner of the Apartment nightclub, said: "We were constantly kept in the dark and Westfield was a cloud over us for the last two years."

Kathy McGuire, owner of Havelock News, was leading light in the protest against Westfield.

"The plans were too big for Swin-don," she said. "Havelock Street would have suffered. It's a traditional, old street Swindon people love it."

Peter Gilbert, who owns a photography store in the street, thinks the plan was destined to fail.

He said: "If the extension wasn't going to engulf the whole area it would have been good. But it sounded unrealistic.

"They were talking about filling 100 shops."

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Swindon Initiative chief executive Barry Lingard said he was disappointed but said CIT should be praised for acting quickly.

He said: "All credit to CIT because it has been upfront about this, and is not leading people a merry dance."

"It's not going to be viable to do anything here unless we've got some big stores and restaurants.

"Swindon keeps pushing for city status but it's not even got a decent town centre."

Indra Robson, manager of The Early Learning Centre, added: "Swindon needs to think about its whole retail environment. Having said that, this centre has gone from strength to strength in the 12 years we have been here."

Pie in the sky

In February last year Westfield unveiled a £150 million masterplan for the Brunel Centre area.

It included 100 quality shops, a food hall, a 10-screen cinema complex, and extra parking for 1,400 cars.

Speaking at the time, Westfield's development director John Burton said: "The problem with Swindon's town centre currently is that there is a mass evacuation at 5.30pm and it then becomes a soulless lagerland that frightens away respectable people.

"That's something we're going to have to change. We'll have shops that will open in the evenings so that people can do their shopping and then pop into one of the fine new restaurants for a gourmet meal."

What's the future?

A STATEMENT from the company said: "CIT group has considered the feasibility of the redevelopment and extension plans for the Brunel Centre and does not believe the plans are currently viable.

"By reversing the previous strategy CIT hopes to open up the town again to retailers wishing to take advantage of the town's strong footfall and encourage existing retailers to refit their shops."

Basically, CIT has decided it would be better to reorganise the centre and offer long-term leases to shops looking to come in.

Because in the last few years there has been the expectation there would be a major overhaul in the middle of town, a lot of shops were only offered on short-term leases.

CIT says there are several big name shops likely to come to Swindon if given the assurance that the town centre won't be radically changed.

Tom Morton