Swindon bus station set for demolition

Following the opening of the new bus interchange on Fleming Way earlier this year, Swindon Borough Council has now appointed Cognition Land & Water to bring down the dilapidated bus station.

The work will begin by removing the metal canopy before moving on to the main building. Any asbestos, brick, kerbs and other concrete materials will be safely cleared for processing to be crushed and reused on site where possible. Steel and other materials with no further use will be sent off for recycling.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Jim Robbins, was recently on hand to kick-off the destruction of the former bus hub as it makes way for a brighter future. Pre-demolition work is already underway to remove the individual bus stops.

The removal of the bus station is the next stage for the full regeneration of the site and surrounding Kimmerfields area.

A design code for a high-quality regeneration scheme is being prepared for Kimmerfields with a view to securing a developer. The former site of the bus station has been earmarked for further new public spaces, continuing the improved connectivity of the train station with footpaths and planting, similar to Fleming Way, centred around a new public square. To the north of the square, there will be a new regional entertainment venue with work ongoing to explore funding options and the best way of making it a success over the long-term.

Both the venue and broader Kimmerfields projects are among more than 50 propositions set out the Council’s ‘Heart of Swindon’ vision to reinvent Swindon town centre, which was launched at the House of Lords earlier this year.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “I’m so happy I was able to play a small part in getting rid of this awful facility, which did not create a good first impression of Swindon.

“I’m sure we can all agree that Fleming Way is a much more pleasant environment for catching the bus.

“It’s important that the new and improved bus interchange provides a springboard for the wider regeneration of the town centre and this is already bearing fruit with the millions of pounds that have been invested in the old Tri-Centre building and landlords elsewhere in the town centre bringing forward plans to transform their buildings.

“Our job now is to carry on bringing our Heart of Swindon vision to life by using the land we do own to make the town centre a place we can all be proud of.

“Once the bus station is gone, that makes land available for a new town centre entertainment venue to replace the ageing Wyvern. Meanwhile, we hope to attract a development partner to finally breathe new life into the derelict Kimmerfields site.

“I’m pleased we will be entering 2026 with plenty of optimism for the year ahead.”