House of Lords event to showcase Swindon’s investment potential

Swindon Borough Council has organised an event at the House of Lords next Monday (17 March) to catalyse investment in the reinvention of Swindon town centre as outlined in its updated ‘Heart of Swindon’ vision.

And, earlier in the day, Council Leader, Councillor Jim Robbins, will present the Vision document during a visit to Number 10 Downing Street to demonstrate to the Government the Council’s ambitious growth agenda.

Developed last year with the support of Allies and Morrison, a London-based architecture and planning practice, the Vision has been updated following consultation with residents last year. It was developed working with town centre landowners, developers, educational institutions, government agencies and businesses.

The Council is now courting investors with the opportunity to be part of delivering up to 8,000 new homes and amenities to support a Swindon population growing much faster than the national average. The Council and public sector partners are already investing more than £100m in projects to improve infrastructure and unlock development.

Guests at the event will be told about the investment opportunities available ranging from shovel-ready projects in Swindon to longer-term strategic sites that can come forward in a phased manner over the next five to 10 years.

Organisations speaking at the event include Business West, which is working with Network Rail, Homes England, the Council and other partners to create a new commercial and residential district on land next to the town’s railway station.

For the second year in a row last year, Swindon was among the five best-performing areas in the Good Growth for Cities Index due to its outstanding economic record and potential, with one of the most productive economies in the UK.

As part of the Thames Valley corridor with excellent road and rail connectivity, Swindon is well placed to gain from the economic benefits of a third runway at Heathrow.

Over the next decade, Panattoni is investing £918m in Swindon to build new 7.2m sq ft of best-in-class logistics, industrial and data centres on the site of the former Honda factory. Panattoni Park is expected to create up to 11,000 jobs and another 4,000 in the supply chain.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “Swindon consistently punches above its weight in terms of its productivity, employment opportunities, affordable housing, good schools and access to green space.

“We have a buoyant economy and some great investment opportunities in Swindon. That’s why we are bringing together in Westminster senior figures from the worlds of finance, business and government to look to stimulate further investment in the town centre over the next decade.

“Residents and local businesses have already bought into our Heart of Swindon Vision as we have been very clear we want to breathe new life into the town centre to complement the significant investment that is taking place elsewhere in the Borough. Next week’s event is a great way to showcase that Swindon is very much open and ready for business.”

Colin Skellett, Chair of Business West, said: “The Heart of Swindon offers a compelling vision of the public and private sector working together to drive sustainable prosperity.

“I look forward to this launch in Westminster Palace, and making the case for Swindon with world-leading institutional investors who have the capital and resources to make this vision a reality.”