DEMOLITION work on the former Swindon College building is to start on April 16 – after the car park in front of the building closes to the public this week.

Developer Ashfield Land has faced many delays since acquiring the site, in Regent Circus, in 2006, but has now appointed contractor Wring Demolition to start pulling down the eyesore.

The £50m project will include a 52,000sq ft Morrison’s superstore, eight restaurants and bars, a 30,000sq ft six-screen Cineworld cinema and a 450-space car park.

Preparatory work has already started with the removal of some of the trees around the site.

Swindon Council has leased the car park since Ashfield bought the site, but it will be closed from Thursday, April 5, because the space will become part of the demolition site and then part of the frontage for the new development.

Council leader Rod Bluh said: “I think it has been very frustrating for everyone in Swindon for the building to remain there, albeit because of the recession. As a first impression for Swindon it has not been helpful.

“I would hope that the demolition starting is a real symbol to everyone in Swindon that the regeneration is on the way.

“This is one of three schemes starting in April which will amount to half a billion pounds worth of regeneration.”

Garry Perkins, Swindon Council’s deputy leader, who is also responsible for regeneration, said he was pleased a date has finally been set for demolition.

He said: “I’m relieved because we were anticipating it on several dates during the last couple of years, but at long last we know it’s going ahead.”

Speaking in February, James Digby, of Ashfield Land, said the demolition would take about two or three months.

It will involve the building being slowly dismantled, and the parts recycled where possible, rather than being blown up.

He said he hoped the site would be cleared by early summer, enabling construction work to start.