Plans approved in January allow for the near-complete removal of the site. Work is now progressing on the former supermarket building and surrounding units.
The unit occupied by Nando’s, along with its step-free access and nearby public realm, will remain.
Regent Circus opened in 2014 on the former college site. The multi-million-pound scheme combined a supermarket, restaurants and a six-screen cinema in a bid to increase footfall in the town centre.
The development began to decline within five years.
Morrisons closed its supermarket in 2019, with more than 100 jobs lost. A petition supported by more than 1,000 people called for it to remain open, but the retailer said the store was not commercially viable.
Without its main anchor tenant, the wider site struggled to maintain consistent activity.
The cinema, which had been a key part of the attraction, has also since closed.
In August 2025, the site was acquired by MCR Property Group. A demolition application was submitted shortly before Christmas.
The move marked a shift away from repurposing the buildings.
Demolition is being carried out in phases, with the former Morrisons store the first major structure to be taken down. Parts of the rear of the building have already been removed, while the front façade remains standing.
Residents have expressed disappointment that a relatively modern development has reached the end of its life. Others have raised concerns about the continued loss of amenities in the town centre.
There is currently no detailed redevelopment scheme confirmed for the site although a residential focussed pre-app is expected shortly.
The demolition has been approved with conditions, including adherence to a set method statement. However, formal proposals for what will replace Regent Circus have not yet been submitted.
Chair of the Swindon Shadow BID board Laura James said:
“It’s a real shame to see a relatively modern building being demolished so soon. There’s an opportunity now for developers to come back with something genuinely bold architecturally, but it cannot just be another residential scheme.”
Vice-Chair of Swindon’s Shadow BID board and Chair of the Old Town Business Association Kris Talikowski said:
“The town centre needs a balanced mix, with strong commercial and leisure elements alongside housing, otherwise we risk repeating the same mistakes. Nando’s alone cannot carry that space.”
The removal of Regent Circus marks another significant change in Swindon town centre. What comes next is yet to be determined.
