Only the Nando’s restaurant and its associated access remain standing, highlighting the scale of the land now available for redevelopment in the heart of Swindon town centre.
The images provide the clearest view yet of the site’s redevelopment potential. Positioned between the Brunel Centre, the railway station and Swindon’s heritage quarter, it is one of the largest remaining development opportunities in the town centre.
Regent Circus opened in 2014 on the former Swindon College site. It was designed to drive town centre regeneration with a supermarket, cinema, restaurants and leisure facilities.
However, the development struggled after Morrisons closed in 2019. The cinema later shut, other occupiers left, and the site gradually fell into decline before being bought by Manchester-based MCR Property Group in 2025.
Demolition work began earlier this year after planning permission was granted to remove almost the entire complex. Rumours have begun circulating that a pre-application has either already been submitted or could be submitted soon, with speculation that the site may be redeveloped primarily for housing.
At the time of publication, no detailed planning application for the future redevelopment of the site has been publicly confirmed.
The speculation has prompted debate over how the prominent site should be redeveloped, with some calling for a strong mix of commercial, retail and leisure uses alongside any new homes.
Laura, a member of Swindon’s Shadow BID Board, said:
“This is one of the most important development sites in Swindon, and we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get it right. New homes have an important role to play, but the ground floor should include commercial, retail and leisure space that brings people into the town centre throughout the day and evening.
Active frontages create life, support local businesses and make places people actually want to visit. It would be a missed opportunity if this became a housing development with little to engage the wider community.”
The demolition brings the curtain down on a development that stood for little more than a decade. It also marks the beginning of a new chapter for one of Swindon’s most significant town centre sites, with its future likely to play a key role in the wider regeneration of the area.
All photos: Jason Spickett – Swindon From The Air
