Council leader 'desperate' to get Swindon building

Jim Robbins said a renewed night-time economy was crucial for Swindon town centre

A borough council leader has said he is "desperate" to bring vibrancy back by increasing building density and bolstering evening entertainment options in the town centre.

Labour councillor Jim Robbins said he wanted to "get the evening economy going" in Swindon and that the town needs higher density buildings to increase the number of people living in the centre.

Swindon's centre has struggled in recent years, with only one business remaining in the decade-old Regents Circus development.

But Conservative group leader Councillor Gary Sumner said the plan is unlikely to succeed due the low land value in the town centre, which is hindering private investment.

Mr Robbins admitted that the town centre appeared "a bit tired", but emphasised the possibilities if private funding became available.

"The data suggests that footfall in the town centre during the day is holding up pretty well for a town our size.

"But the real challenge is that as soon as it gets to five or six o'clock, the shops shut and that's when you're seeing it turn into a place that isn't widely used.

"We're really keen to see that investment coming in that is going to help us transform the town centre," he added.

Mr Robbins said he also wanted to bring in "different housing models", which would bring people into the town centre and offer additional leisure facilities for people to use.

"What you're seeing is a very low density town centre, [there are] hardly two storeys over there.

"I think if you look around at other town centres that are really successful, you see more density of people living in the town centre.

"That's what gives it that evening economy, that makes it a place that people want to be", he said.

Conservative Councillor Gary Sumner said poor land value in the town centre meant that public money was needed to attract private investment

But Councillor Sumner said that good intentions would not necessarily bring the desired results.

"Despite the administration's ambitions, many of the sites in the town centre have a negative land value. They are not viable (for developers).

"We almost need money given to us in order to be able to develop a site, and that's whether the government choose to [invest] or not," he added.