The new Swindon appointed the company to transform the Exchange into a fully mixed-use scheme incorporating high-quality and well designed buildings and public spaces. Amec claims its design will create an 18-hour urban culture.

The Exchange is likely to feature 25,000m2 of retail and leisure space, a 13,000m2 hotel, a new bus interchange, 55,000m2 of office space and 450 residential units, 30% of which will be affordable. The project will also feature1300 car parking spaces.

Chief executive of The New Swindon Company, Peter James said: “The decision to go with Amec was an extremely difficult process as the creativity, quality and standard of all the proposals were world class. With AMEC we are confident that Swindon will get a fantastic well designed, quality development that will bring vitality and vibrancy to the town centre.”

Benoys Architects will act as masterplanners and lead consultants. Arup will be the project’s structural and civil engineers and Whitmarsh Lockhart, a local Swindon company, will act as the project’s commercial property consultant.

The work will take eight to ten years. The first phase is due to start early 2008 with alignment and enabling works taking place as well as the construction of some pre-let offices and shops plus speculatively built apartments and offices.