BUSINESS NEWS
Contractor appointed to deliver major Swindon regeneration scheme
A £ 33m regeneration project , which will act as a catalyst for future investment in Swindon town centre , is a step closer to taking off following the appointment of the contractor for the scheme .
Colas , which delivered the Birmingham Airport runway extension as well as many other high-profile infrastructure projects , will begin work on a new bus interchange and gateway into the town centre later this year .
The Fleming Way Bus Boulevard scheme has been developed by Swindon Borough Council and will see Fleming Way completely transformed to accommodate all bus services in the town . It will include a new public open space on the north side with a green central spine to increase biodiversity .
The new facility will replace the ageing bus station and will also feature much-improved pedestrian and cycle routes , while the removal of the current Fleming Way underpass will create an attractive and welcoming route from the train station into the town centre .
The Council submitted a robust business case to the Government in order to obtain £ 25m in funding from the Future High Streets Fund .
The scheme is expected to stimulate further investment in the town centre along Fleming Way – and potentially Station Road , Fleet Street and Bridge Street – by increasing land values by as much as £ 34m and unlocking new residential development at the adjacent Kimmerfields site .
Assessments have also shown the scheme will substantially increase Swindon ’ s economic productivity by £ 28.7m in the first 20 years through enhancing the bus and cycling infrastructure in the town centre .
“ The scheme is so important for the town centre because it will help to unlock wider regeneration ”
Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership ( SWLEP ) contributed £ 3m to progress the design of the scheme together with the necessary site investigations and utility diversions . The Council ’ s Cabinet also approved a contribution of £ 5m in capital funding to the project .
The Council ’ s bid was backed by major landowners and transport operators , while one of the town ’ s major employers , Zurich , cited the improvements as a key consideration when opting to build its new headquarters on land adjacent to Fleming Way .
Councillor Gary Sumner , Swindon Borough Council ’ s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure , Transport and Planning , said , “ This scheme is so important for the town centre because it will help to unlock wider regeneration .
“ In recent times , the low land values in this part of town have made it less attractive to investors and developers , so we are using government funding to improve the local area and make it a place they want to put in their money .
“ We are effectively giving the rejuvenation of the town centre a kick-start , helping us bounce back strongly from the shift to online retail and the effects of the pandemic .
He added , “ I ’ m delighted we have appointed a proven contractor in Colas to deliver this scheme for us .”
The Fleming Way Bus Boulevard forms part of more than £ 100m of council-led investment in the town centre over the next four years .
For more info : www . swindon . gov . uk / towncentreregeneration
NEW £ 1 MILLION FILM STUDIO TO BE BUILT IN SWINDON
A new £ 1 million digital filmmaking studio is set to open in Swindon after a business case was approved by central government . Ministers have sanctioned £ 400,000 for refurbishing Unit 9 of the Carriage Works .
Local production company Create Studios which has made films for English Heritage , the NHS , Chelsea Football Club and Historic
England , has signed a 10-year lease for the unit . The facility will include state-ofthe-art equipment designed for modern digital production , and the development of digital skills . It will also enable 16,000 direct participant engagements per year , 60,000 live audiences for civic exhibitions and an online audience of 5 million people .
To support this growth , nine full-time roles will be created and will support 50 additional artists , creatives , and specialists , while also increasing income that can be reinvested for community benefit .
Create Studios is a social enterprise model that generates income and offers employment opportunities by delivering media production for partners . The facility will enable opportunities for young people from all over Swindon through a range of community projects , training , and educational programmes .
For more info : www . createstudios . org . uk
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