TOWN centre regeneration is under way, but progress is going to be very slow.

That was the message from a senior councillor called on to discuss some of Swindon’s major projects at a meeting of the council’s economic growth committee on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the council announced it was to part ways with Muse, the development firm tasked with delivering the multi-million pound Kimmerfields development that had been characterised by years of inaction.

They cited an unwillingness by the company to proceed with building work at a sufficiently speedy pace.

But discussing the future of the beleaguered project, Garry Perkins, the cabinet member responsible for regeneration, said it could still be “at least a couple of years” before any construction gets underway.

The council needs to put the delivery of a new bus station and the remodelling of Fleming Way before anything else because part of the funding identified for that part of the project is time-limited.

Coun Perkins said: “We know it’s a couple of years work on the bus station and Fleming Way before any construction will start on Kimmerfields.”

A senior officer present at Wednesday’s meeting even acknowledged that the work could stretch towards 2021.

In the meantime, Coun Perkins said the council is working with its development arm, Forward Swindon, to identify “alternative uses” for what is currently a vast expanse of waste land and empty car parks occupied only by an empty former health centre.

One suggestion, put forward by Dale Heenan (Con - Covingham and Dorcan), was to explore the viability of a temporary retail and entertainment venue.

“Would it be possible to be more agile and fleet footed and do something like a Box Park, as they have in London,” said Coun Heenan.

“They’re relatively cheap to set up and can be live music venues as well.”

He was told that discussions had already taken place with similar sites in the capital to explore options.

Extended timescales also appear to be the theme for other long-awaited projects around the town.

The redevelopment of Signal Point, the derelict former office block above the station, appears to be some distance away.

Councillors were told that the building’s leaseholders were “frustrating development” by pushing for a conversion to flats not offices. Such a move is opposed by the owners, Network Rail, on the grounds that residential properties would be harder to clear further down the line when the proposed station overhaul finally happens.

But rail users can shelve any hope of seeing that wider station redevelopment any time soon.

While initial funding to deliver a feasibility study has been secured, the first available funding window for any significant work does not open until 2019 with work unlikely to commence until after that.

When it does finally happen, one focus is likely to be on parking provision to the north of the line and access to it from Great Western Way - it is hoped that by providing full and comprehensive access from both sides of the station, some of the daily traffic gridlock will be alleviated.

Up in Old Town, similarly exasperating delays are being experienced with the redevelopment of the Corn Exchange where the development agreement had identified September 2017 as the deadline for planning permission.

It is now likely to be next year before that milestone is reached, with building work not expected to start until 2019 at the earliest.