News

Help put the heart back into Swindon

The proposed regeneration framework for the central area of Swindon goes on display at the Brunel Shopping Centre next Friday and Saturday (4th and 5th July). Everyone who lives or works in Swindon is being encouraged to go along to find out more and share their ideas with members of the team.

A second newsletter, highlighting key areas and themes for the regeneration of central Swindon is also being distributed to homes and businesses in and around the urban regeneration area over the next couple of days.

The newsletter highlights four broad zones for regeneration: the Station Gateway; the Heritage Zone; the Retail Core; and, the Commercial and Cultural Quarter. Each zone complements the others and will help to create a strong and vibrant centre for the town.

Four key components essential to the effective regeneration of Swindon across the whole of the central area are also identified - strong local economy, housing, transport and public areas. The framework suggests a range of town centre homes should be provided to meet the needs of the changing population, which benefit from pleasant open spaces where people can relax and enjoy a safe and comfortable environment, with an easily accessible transport network.

This would be underpinned by strategies to retain existing businesses and encourage new companies, so creating more employment opportunities and to develop enhanced retail leisure facilities to attract more people to use the town centre.

Peter Andrews, chief executive of the New Swindon Company said: "The proposals are a culmination of research and feedback from the initial phases of consultation. We hope this will give people a springboard from which to explore further ideas for the regeneration of the central area."

We have also attached a questionnaire to the newsletters, which will be available at the exhibition and on our website. I hope people will fill it in with their ideas- the more innovative the better.

Tuesday 1st July 2003