Swindon Borough Council is set to argue at the Houses of Parliament that investing in Swindon's town centre is a 'no-brainer'

Investors will be invited to a meeting in the new year where they will be told Swindon 'is the place you want to be and our your money. There is a great return on investment here for those who are in it for the long term."

The leader of Swindon Borough Council, Councillor Jim Robbins, wants to take a very ambitious plan to that meeting, slated for January, with huge corporate investors such as pension company Legal & General.

That plan will be put to his cabinet colleagues next week, before being discussed at three public consultations dubbed “Let’s Talk Swindon” sessions and will then be revised before being taken to the investment summit.

The proposal, called The Heart Of Swindon sets out ambitious hopes under eight headings: “A Centre for Living;  A Creative Centre; A Centre for Learning; A Knowledge Centre; A Green & Healthy Centre; A Vibrant Centre; A Connected Centre;  and  A Proud Swindon.

Specific details include the creation of a new theatre and concert venue at the site of the bus station which could seat 1,200 and host 2,000 standing visitors and up to 5,000 more houses and flats in the town centre.

They also include a new primary school; the construction of a learning zone designed to attract campuses from existing universities in the wider region; street markets; more student housing and easier ways to get around town and a greener town centre, including more street trees in the central area better connectivity between the town’s parks and gardens.

The council will continue to try and attract more housing to the town centre to revive its use in the evenings where it is now very quiet after the shops shut and will also be talking to major local businesses about their needs in terms of office space, again with the aim of bringing them back towards the town centre.

Cllr Robbins said: “We‘ve done a lot of knocking on doors asking for residents’ support over the last few years and consistently the thing that comes up is the town centre and how much it needs to be improved.

“We know the town centre is too big to be sustainable and it’s empty after 5pm. There have been a lot of three- and four-bedroom houses built on the edge of the town – there’s room in the centre for more diverse residential: starter homes, mixed developments, student housing, and sheltered housing.

“Post pandemic the world of work has changed, and big companies, who are committed to Swindon, who will be staying here are telling us they need more flexible spaces, and they don’t want to be out of town.”

Cllr Robbins: “These are difficult financial times for the council, and we know we can’t do it all, and we don’t control large parts of the town centre. So we need to work with local businesses and landowners, but I’d like to get everyone on the same page and agreed on the future direction for the town centre so we can take it to big investors.

“My message will be that Swindon is 47 minutes from London, land values are low, a sensible investment now and helping to build the Swindon we all want to see would give a massive return on investment.

“Swindon is crying out for investment but the potential is huge: the job market, the productivity, the location.

“It should be doing much better.”

Although private sector investment is critical and will be needed in the long run, Cllr Robbins added: “In the short-term, there are positive changes and improvements that can be delivered in the town centre over the next few years. That includes the Council-led work to build a new entertainment venue in the town centre.

“I am pleased that there is recognition of the need for cross-party support to unite around this vision to help give our partners confidence in making long-term investment decisions.”

The proposals will be pe put before cabinet at its meeting at 6pm on Wednesday, November 13.

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