PLANS for a piazza-style development to transform the heart of Old Town are several months behind schedule.

Countryside Properties is now expected to unveil its plans for The Square and Locarno Ballroom building in May at the earliest, rather than January as it originally predicted.

The delays have been caused by the complex preparatory work being undertaken at the site.

In recent months drilling has been underway in The Square to establish how stable the area is to build on.

Old Town councillor Mike Bawden (Con) said he is still confident the project will go ahead.

He said: "They have had to do various surveys including drilling holes all over the place to see what's below the tarmac.

"There are a lot of cellars down there and that sort of thing - it is one of the oldest sites in the borough.

"It's a complicated site because of the age of the buildings and the need to protect them.

"I'm doing my best to make sure a scheme will come forward.

"I would be bitterly disappointed if the scheme fell by the wayside. But the organisation second to Countryside Properties in the bidding is still interested so we have a fall back option."

In December, Countryside Properties announced its intention to create a piazza-style open space in the area of The Square next to the former Locarno Ballroom and Town Hall buildings.

It outlined a development which includes new office and retail space creating an open square where there is currently car parking.

It also includes the refurbishment of the Locarno and Town Hall buildings with restaurants on the ground floors.

Agent for the scheme Peter Lawson said: "It's a complex project and there are a lot of issues to be resolved. We've been doing a lot of investigation of ground conditions.

"We don't want to design a scheme that can't then be built."

Countryside Properties was the winning bidder after Gael Mackenzie, who owns the Locarno, and Swindon Council, which owns land nearby, jointly offered the area up for sale.