Go Outdoors has been preparing to move into the former Toys R Us building on Oxford Road for the last few months but the much-anticipated opening is expected to come very soon.

The outdoor store is scheduled to open at the beginning of April, it has been confirmed. 

It was first announced that the empty unit would be taken over by Go Outdoors in October.

The unit, located next to the A419 and A420 off the White Hart roundabout, has remained empty since 2018 when Toys R Us went out of business. There was fierce debate about the future of the site.

Swindon Advertiser:

A sign outside the unit on the White Hart roundabout promises that the "amazing" new store is "coming soon".

The Toys R Us signs have not yet been removed from the building but workers are at the site.

Go Outdoors closed its Ocotal Way store in February. 

On February 28, the company said: "This store is now closed. We hope to be back in Swindon soon, but until then your nearest Go Outdoors stores are at Oxford and Gloucester and our website remains open 24/7 for all your outdoors needs."

Ward councillor for Stratton St Margaret Roger Smith spoke of the benefits of the move back in October.

He said: “This is very good news for the people of Stratton St Margaret. The former Toys R Us store has been a derelict eyesore for far too long.

"It’s good to see this building being brought back to life with more local jobs. I look forward to the new store opening early next year.”