As the Zurich building nears completion, the next phase of the Kimmerfields development will be the building of 250 houses, councillors were told.

Members of Swindon Borough Council’s growing the economy overview and scrutiny committee received a briefing from officers on the developments around Kimmerfields.

Officer Sam Rackham told the councillors: “Effective completion of work on the Zurich building is the end of this week, October 7.

“We are improving the drainage and putting down a new road surface for the users and that will finish this week.”

Mr Rackham said once these works are completed Carfax St, Carfax Close and Merton St will reopen to the public and this should l bring more footfall and local spend to the town centre.

He added: This shows how the Kimmerfields regeneration is deliverable. Ans it will bring 100sw of people into the town centre that aren’t using it at the moment.”

As work on redesigning Fleming Way, including lowering it to allow level pedestrian crossing continues, the next phase of work will be towards getting 250 houses built on the cleared land to the north of the new Zurich building, on land boused by Corporation Street and Manchester Road.

Mr Rackham described it as the 21st century equivalent of Railway Village- houses built near to where people work and shop and go out for leisure.

The presentation to councillors shows examples of the sort of form the housing might take – similar high density urban developments in New York, Cambridge, and Norwich.

The council’s policy is to develop more of the town centre as mixed-use: a combination of housing, business and leisure uses to replace the declining retail sector.

The report said feasibility studies are ongoing on the residential development. And once the work on Fleming way is finished, which is expected in 2024, the existing bus station will be knocked down, with a new public park to be created in its place.

Leader of the labour group of councillors Jim Robbins said: “I don’t remember when it was all fields, but I do remember when it was called Union Square under a different developer. We started this regeneration in 2007 – someone born then will be taking their GCSEs in the summer – and all we’ve got for it is the Zurich building.”

The Conservative cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, transport & planning Gary Sumner responded: “This is a £38m investment in Swindon by Zurich which has confirmed it's staying here for good. We are talking to the owners of the Tricentre which will see Zurich staff decanted out – there are the redevelopments of the UK Life Centre, Falcon House

“Under permitted development rules, we are really starting to see impetus now in this area.”