Traders at one of Swindon’s landmark shopping destinations are being ‘helped’ to find other premises by the centre’s owners – to enable a hugely ambitious plan for tower blocks of flats.

As Jungle Mania soft play reaches the end of its tenancy in the Brunel Centre in the heart of Swindon, the mall’s owner FI Real Estate management have confirmed that it is helping some of its tenants move out.

That is to facilitate the company’s plans to build two huge tower blocks with nearly 300 flats on the northern half of the centre to the north of Canal Walk, next to the David Murray John tower.

The company has said: “We have a long-standing commitment to Swindon, having had a presence in the town for several years, both as a property developer and asset manager.

"Most recently, we have been working with Swindon council, our tenants and the local community to explore ways we can enhance the future potential of the town centre through the ongoing redevelopment of the Brunel Shopping Centre and surrounding areas, and the creation of a new landmark residential and leisure scheme.

“As part of these plans we have been helping Brunel tenants to achieve their own growth objectives by relocating to more fit-for-purpose units elsewhere within the centre or the town as a whole, particularly in light of the House of Fraser’s exit last year.

"This includes the relocation of existing tenant, F Hinds, to a prime pitch on Regent Street within the Brunel, which is now home to the jeweller’s flagship store.

“The Brunel Shopping Centre is a primary retail destination and plays an important role in Swindon’s economy.

"We will continue to invest in its transformation as we adapt to the changing retail landscape post-Covid and in accordance with the Council’s wider town centre regeneration strategy.”

'Not renewing any leases'

When Jungle Mania closed, it told the Adver its lease wasn’t being renewed and linked that non-renewal to the plans for the towers, which have already seen the units along Wharf Green, including that used by the House of Fraser outlet, vacated.

One of the bosses at the play centre said: “It all depends when the shop’s lease ends, they (FI REM) are not renewing any, which is the reason why we have to leave on November 6.

“They are turning the shopping centre into flats.”

And the northern half of the centre is now much more sparsely populated than the rest of the centre south of the Crossing food court.

There are nine units still occupied and 10 empty, including the original F Hinds site, an occupancy rate of less than 50 per cent.

In the southern sector of the centre things are much busier, with anchor tenants such as Marks & Spencer and Boots still trading and just five empty units - although the two-storey Waterstones bookshop is soon to relocate to a shop in Canal Walk.

Last month FI REM confirmed it is still progressing with the plans for the two towers, which saw a formal application for planning consent lodged in October 2019.

The taller of the two towers, which would loom directly over Canal Walk, would contain 158 one- and two-bedroom flats, and the smaller tower set further back towards Farnsby Street would have 132.

At the bottom will be shops, restaurants and bars, and plans show a garden above the first-floor leisure space, lounge area, private dining, meeting rooms and co-working spaces.

Consent for the residential plans has not yet been given by Swindon Borough Council.