Eastleigh - The Swan Centre

The Swan Centre

The Swan Shopping Centre opened in 1989, and was built in the heart of the town's Victorian 'grid iron' road layout and blocked off Market Street and High Street - although through access was possible for pedestrians while the centre was open. The Swan Centre included a French-style café and a new library (replacing the recently demolished Town Hall library) in the High Street atrium.

The Centre originally contained a large shop unit which was reserved for a major fashion retailer (rumoured to be Dunnes), however this never came to fruition and in the late 1990s, significant modifications were made to the 'Octogan' (the Market Street atrium), including removal of the glass lift, replacement stairs and closure/in-filling of the mall that led to the southern part of Market Street (the shop units in this part were never let). These modifications were partly paid for by Littlewoods, who moved into the new enlarged shop unit. Following the demise of Littlewoods' retail business, the unit is now occupied by T.K. Maxx. Anchor stores at the Swan Centre include Tesco Metro, W H Smith, New Look, Next, McDonald's, Argos and Boots.

The Swan Centre has been largely successful commercially, with most of the ground floor units being occupied, however the retail units on the first floor have never been let. The High Street atrium used to have a crèche but now only has the library and centre management offices. In 2008, a project to extend the Swan Centre was started. The extension, at the eastern side of the centre saw a new structure constructed above the Tesco car park. This extension completed in March/April 2009 with the opening of a Vue cinema, AMF bowling alley and several restaurants.