Page 2 - link magazine

2 swindonlink.com • October 2008
£215 million deal for new look town; the first of several

Put away the cynicism, set aside worries about the economic state of the nation: Swindon is facing up with confidence to the gloom and doom
of the global credit crunch.
That’s the message from the sign- South Swindon MP Anne Snel-
ing of a development agreement grove is delighted with the agree-
which will see £215 million of pri- ment. “It shows that developers
vate and public sector investment have tremendous confidence in
in the regeneration of the Granville the future of the town. The Modus
Street area, between Commercial scheme is for quality buildings to
Road and Regent Street, known as replace some of the horrible legacy
Regent Place. of the 1960s and earlier. I think ev-
Modus Properties has committed erybody who lives in the town can
to deliver 32,500 square metres of have confidence that the vision for
high quality retail, residential, lei- Swindon is coming good.”
sure and car park spaces, with De- Leader of the council Rod Bluh
benhams relocated into the anchor said the agreement with Modus is
position on the site by 2012. the first part of an investment in
Looking into the Regent Place development from Regent Street

Marking the formal signing of the Modus deal in the House of Commons, from left,
Peter James, chief executive of the New Swindon Company, coun Peter Greenhalgh,
cabinet member for strategic planning, coun Phil Young, Swindon cabinet member for
economic development and regeneration, coun Rod Bluh, leader of the council, Anne
Snelgrove, MP for South Swindon, Mike Ralph, planning director of Modus
At a presentation at the House the town centre of over £650 mil-
of Commons on 3 September to lion. “This is not all about physical
mark the signing of the agreement, change of the town. Our require-
coun Phil Young, cabinet member ment is for high quality, sustainable
for economic development and re- development and also the improve-
generation, said, “given the current ment to public and cultural space
gloomy economy, the signing of this and activities. They go hand in hand
agreement really puts Swindon a to make Swindon a better place to
step ahead of many other regenera- live and visit.”
tion schemes in the UK. It is a true • A second £300 million develop-
sign that progress is being made ment agreement for the area around
in the town centre. Regent Place the bus station and the old police
is the first step in a much bigger station is due to be signed in early
picture.” October.
Builders demand decision from government
on Coate, despite 50,000 petition against plan
A campaigner against the development of houses next to Coate Water
has condemned an application to Central Government to set up a local
planning enquiry to decide on their proposal for 1,800 homes between
the country park and Great Western Hospital.
Swindon Council’s planning “They’re trying to protect their
committee was due to consider a land bank and want to bully govern-
report in November, but the move ment into siding with them.”
by Persimmon and Redrow Homes The Gateway Partnership plan is
of the Swindon Gateway Partner- dependent on a university campus
ship by-passes their decision. being built but they have not named
Jean Saunders of the Save Coate their partner since Bath University
Alliance - which has collected nearly pulled out a year ago.
50,000 names against development - Ms Saunders said, “if there is
said Persimmon and Redrow might another university involved the de-
lose the site. “Swindon Council is velopers should name it; Gateway
proposing 750 homes as part of their cannot got ahead without one so
core strategy, which we also oppose. Swindon people deserve to be told
If the council adopts that policy, it what’s going on.
will block the developers’ chances “This move will strengthen op-
of building a further 1,000 houses position to their plan.”
when the economy improves. www.savecoate.org.uk

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