Swindon Designer Outlet began work today on the regeneration of the historic Long Shop building, part of the Grade II-listed Great Western Railway Works.
The regeneration is part of a £35-million investment to incorporate the Long Shop as part of the extension and enhancement of Swindon Designer Outlet, which will relaunch the centre as a key retail destination in the South-West of England. This will be the third extension of the centre, since it opened in 1997. The extension will create around 350 new jobs once the works are finished in early 2015. This will bring the total number of people employed at Swindon Designer Outlet to 1,100, from its current 750, making it a key employer in the town.
The regeneration will be split into two phases, with the first section of the work being completed in Spring 2014.
FIRST PHASE: As part of the first phase of the relaunch, due to open in Spring 2014, Swindon Designer Outlet is redesigning its existing food quarter area and bring in two exciting new restaurants, as well as creating a specially designed events space.
SECOND PHASE: The second and final phase launching in Spring 2015 phase, including the conversion of the Long Shop which is due for completion in October 2014, will create up to 30 new stores – making the total number at the outlet around 120 - and add nearly 50,000 sq ft of new retail space. This will allow for 25 new brands and five new restaurants to attract shoppers from among the 2.7 million inhabitants who live within a 60-minute drive of the centre, as well as tourists visiting the West Country.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “The redevelopment of McArthurGlen’s Swindon Designer Outlet will bring hundreds of jobs to the local community, both throughout the construction phase and in the shops and restaurants once the project is completed. The expansion will also drive economic growth as it draws in shoppers from the wider area, and I welcome any development which embraces Swindon’s rich history and restores such a key building to its former glory.”
Tina Cumpstey, Centre Manager at Swindon Designer Outlet, said: “Not only will the extension and refurbishment of the centre bring us new, sought-after brand names, especially in fashion, but also a fresh sense of excitement to the whole shopping experience, and one that is linked to the town’s historic connection with the railways and the iconic architecture of the Great Western Railway Works. Shoppers locally and further afield will now able to experience and enjoy first-hand the refurbished Long Shop, with its conservation now ensured for future generations.”
Ian Piper, CEO of Forward Swindon, the economic growth and regeneration company for Swindon, said: “We’re delighted to see this level of investment into Swindon, and the enhanced facility will offer more high quality shopping and eating options for our residents and workers, as well as visitors from further afield. The challenge of creating a stronger connection between the Swindon Designer Outlet and the rest of the town centre, as identified in the Masterplan, is an important element of our work at Forward Swindon.”
.
