Swindon Town set to benefit from £19.5m for regeneration projects
The Health Hydro, Create Studios, The Brunel Centre and Kimmerfields development will get millions
Swindon will receive £19.5m of its bid for £25m from the government’s towns fund, it was announced by the government as part of the budget today (WEDS).
That means its projects to refurbish the health hydro, including re-opening the small pool, fitting out the Carriage Works for Create Studios, finding a new use for the Brunel Centre tented market, and enabling work at the Kimmerfields development will all get a boost of millions of pounds each.
The bid for £5.5million to help regenerate the David Murray John Tower has not been funded by the government.
But leader of Swindon Borough Council David Renard is thrilled. He said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that our bid was successful.
“It shows the bids which were agreed through the Towns Fund Board were very strong because they were funded, and the feedback we had from government was very good.
“It is very encouraging to get support from the government like this. We shall have something like £4m for improving the Health Hydro and money for the Kimmerfields development.”
Councillor Renard was not discouraged by the decision not to fund regenerating the DMJ tower block in the centre of town.
He continued:
“The money we bid for would have only been a contribution to the whole project- and I think the government felt it wanted to fund whole projects rather than simply make a contribution to larger one.”
Dale Heenan, the council’s cabinet member for the town centre, culture and heritage, whose portfolio included places like the Health Hydro and the covered market in Commercial Road, is also very pleased.
Dale Heenan said:
“I am delighted Swindon has secured £19.5m more from Rishi Sunak and the government today. In the last two years we have secured more than £100 million for improving our town centre; the biggest investment since the original town centre was created in the 1960’s.
“The council doesn’t own 99 per cent of the shops and buildings, but our plans are showing visible progress. A crane is already on the Swindon skyline, and today’s money will ensure everyone can expect to see many more things happening.
Coun Heenan also is leading plans to create a new cultural quarter at the Kimmerfields development, building a new, bigger Wyvern Theatre and a new home for Swindon Art Gallery and Museum.
He saw an opportunity to bid for more money in the Chancellor’s speech: “The new levelling-up fund also announced sounds ideal for funding the needed new Wyvern Theatre and Cultural Quarter. Exciting times are ahead with a very positive future for Swindon.”