'Swindon town centre needs complete reinvention'

The leader of the council, Councillor Jim Robbins, is determined that the vision will come to fruition

Plans to reinvent Swindon's town centre are being tabled at a council meeting on Wednesday evening.

A draft document called "Heart of Swindon" sets out eight aims, which involve investing in the centre, including making it an improved place to live, and being creative with an increased mix of shops and places to go out.

Swindon Borough Council said a number of organisations had met to help develop the plan, such as Network Rail and Business West.

Councillor Jim Robbins, leader of the council, said: “Everyone is clear on the diagnosis: Swindon town centre needs complete reinvention.

'Flip the cynicism'

“Of course, they are just ambitions. But I’m determined the final vision document won’t be another glossy travel brochure where we never arrive at the airport.

"I understand public cynicism created by previous plans and grand schemes for the town centre that haven’t materialised. But we need to flip the cynicism and get behind a positive way forward," he explained.

Mr Robbins added it would need private, public and voluntary sectors to collaborate, but that partners had already been coming together to shape the plans.

It would also need a lot of private investment to make it happen, he said.

The town centre has been a point of contention for some years in Swindon

Each ambition has proposals on how it could be realised. One suggests providing up to 5,000 new homes in the town centre, many of which would be affordable.

Others explore the redevelopment of the Brunel Centre, the bringing forward of a residential-led development at Kimmerfields, and creating a large entertainment venue.

The council’s cabinet will be asked this month to decide on the location of the entertainment venue and approve work to develop a detailed business case.

If approved at the meeting, the council will invite views from residents and interested parties to help inform a final version.