Plans for new Swindon entertainment venue poised to advance

A new state-of-the-art entertainment centre in Swindon town centre could become a step closer to being realised this week, when the council's cabinet meets on November 13.

Members of the cabinet are set to be asked to approve the location of any future venue, with a report recommending the current bus station site as the most suitable.

The cabinet is also being asked to green light up to £40,000 of funding for officers to develop a detailed business case setting out how a commercially viable venue could be built cost effectively.

It follows analysis by theatre specialists, which concluded that Swindon was well placed to host a new regional scale entertainment venue.

To significantly reduce the cost and time to build a venue, the outline business case recommends pursuing a lightweight steel structure and modular components.

The project is one of the council’s flagship commitments in the performance framework, which supports the delivery of the Swindon Plan, linked to the mission to 'Build a Better Swindon'.

"Swindon deserves a state-of-the-art entertainment venue which would also bring many wider benefits to the town centre and local economy," said Councillor Jim Robbins, the leader of Swindon borough council.

"It’s understandable why some people may view this project with scepticism, given the Council’s financial position.

"But I’m confident that there is a realistic prospect of getting to a robust business case that demonstrates that a commercially viable venue can be built cost effectively and in a timely manner.

"This project would be a catalyst, helping to turbocharge the wider reinvention of the town centre."