Plans to create a new northern entrance to Swindon train station will be worked up as part of a huge regeneration project.
Swindon Borough Council has been awarded £100,000 by Homes England so designs can be drawn up for the scheme, which will see over 100 acres of brownfield land next to the railway redeveloped, creating a new high-quality commercial district within Swindon town centre, thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new homes.
Known as Swindon Knowledge Central, the plans would include building a new multi-storey car park on the site of the current north car park, accessible from North Star.
This will allow the surface car parks on the south side of the railway tracks to become available for development.
The exciting project is also one of the propositions within the Council’s vision for the ‘Heart of Swindon’ which was recently shared with the Government during a special visit to 10 Downing Street and was the centrepiece of an investment summit at the House of Lords organised by the Council last week (17 March).
Partners working with the Council on the plans include Network Rail, GWR, Homes England, Department for Business and Trade, UK Research and Innovation and Business West.
Swindon has one of the most productive economies in the UK and is already an area where innovative, knowledge-based industries are growing quickly and driving economic development.
Existing research investment and assets include UKRI, and iCAST, a joint venture between the Universities of Oxford and Bath, located at the Council’s regenerated Carriage Works close to the railway station.
The new scheme aims to capitalise on this and attract further private sector investment. Along with the repurposing of existing land, Swindon’s station is a Network Rail priority for regeneration, following successful projects to upgrade Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central stations.
Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “It’s great to get this money in and agreed so quickly after the successful House of Lords event last week. It shows that we’re being proactive and that we’re willing to put in the effort to make sure we build a better Swindon.
“For a long time, residents have complained about the Signal Point building and have called for improvements to the car parks and drop-off areas of the station. This design work is the first step in making that change possible.
“Creating this new entrance and car park will open the door for the transformation of the train station and the wider Railway Quarter area. It has the potential to become a new destination Swindon residents can be proud of and will include new residential, amenities and space for new organisations to join the growing list of knowledge-based groups already in the Carriage Works.
“There’s still a long way to go, and a lot of work to be done, but I’m very pleased we’ve been granted this funding, and I look forward to Network Rail and other partners coming together to create these new designs and get this project moving down the tracks.”
Marcus Jones, Western Route Director at Network Rail, said: “The railways put Swindon on the map, and our futures have been intertwined since. The town has superb transport links and we’re delighted in the 200th anniversary of the railways that this key regeneration project has taken another step forward with plans for a new entrance at Swindon station in the works.
“We look forward to working with Swindon Borough Council and other partners on the development of this scheme, which will enhance the station environment for passengers travelling to and from the town.”
Colin Skellett, Chair of Business West, said: “This is another significant milestone for Swindon Knowledge Central, and it’s encouraging to see how quickly this project is gaining momentum.
“We are grateful to Homes England for investing in this important enabling work, which will help unlock further private investment.”
