Brunel centre shops 'ripped out' ahead of redevelopment

The closed stores in the Arcade end of the town centre shopping destination were spotted being stripped down by a member of the public on Tuesday last week.

The member of the public took pictures of the work taking place, which showed that the inside of the former Cargo Homes shop was being deconstructed.

A digger could be seen inside, and panelling and ceiling tiles could be seen being removed. Safety barriers had been placed outside the store.

A large blue dust sheet could also be seen outside the front of the former F.Hinds jewellery store, and the inside showed that it had been completely reduced to its concrete foundations, with bare floor and bare concrete pillars.

The old C&A store was also being worked on.

Construction work taking place on several stores inside the Brunel Shopping Centre (Image: From Public)

A spokesperson for FI Real Estate Management, the owners of the shopping centre, said: “The images show remediation works that are routinely undertaken after properties have been vacated to ready them for their next use.

“This forms part of our wider strategy to redevelop sections of the centre to serve better the town in what is an evolving landscape for our high streets.”

In October 2019 FI Real Estate Management put in plans to build the twin towers on part of the centre.

After two years of upheaval caused by the Covid pandemic, FI Real Estate confirmed in October 2022 that it intended to continue with its plans for the tower blocks.

In November of that year, Jungle Mania, which was on that side of the shopping centre, was told its lease wouldn’t be renewed.

At this time the property management company confirmed it had been ‘helping’ its tenants relocate as part of its “long-standing commitment to Swindon”.

A spokesperson said at the time: “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.”

Shaws the Drapers also closed in December 2022

House of Fraser, which had a street-facing entrance as well as one leading into the shopping centre and closed in November 2021, and Boswells Café, which moved to a new location earlier this year, are other high-profile establishments that have moved from that side, leaving empty units behind.