Growth Of Swindon

Swindon has been designated as a Principal Urban Area in the South West Regional Spatial Strategy, resulting in significant growth being focused on the Borough over the period to 2026. This has been done in response to the Government’s long-term plans to build more houses across the UK and bring on an urban renaissance.

New Communities

There are three development areas in Swindon that are at various stages of completion, which in total will see almost 30,000 new houses constructed and 70,000 new residents move to the Borough. This makes for exciting times and there will be many opportunities for economic and personal development as new communities emerge and evolve.

Priory Vale

The most advanced of the new growth areas is the Northern Development Area called Priory Vale which comprises almost 600 hectares of land and will accommodate some 23,000 people on completion in the Haydon and Abbey Meads areas of Swindon. With 6243 homes completed by April 2006, from an anticipated 9,000 dwellings, the Northern Development Area will continue to be the main source of new housing in the Borough for several years. Its development is guided by a series of framework plans, which interpret the provisions of a master plan for the whole area.

Wichelstowe

Next in line is the Southern Development Area, recently named Wichelstowe. Located on the southern fringe of the town and stretching to the M4 motorway, Wichelstowe has been identified as the most appropriate area to accommodate at least 3,800 houses. Initial construction of Wichelstowe commenced in mid-2006. Within the plans for the ‘walkable’ and cul-de-sac free community are new schools and a town centre, plus houses built with a blend of traditional local designs and materials with modern sustainability. There is a keen desire for the town to obtain its own sense of identity separate from Swindon.

On The Horizon

The largest new development identified in the Principal Urban Area Study is the Eastern Development Area. It has been considered the most sustainable option for large-scale greenfield development of the town to 2016 and beyond. In addition to housing, the area could accommodate appropriate associated development, including employment, retail and community facilities such as schools, health centres, places of worship and open spaces. The area benefits from close proximity to the existing urban areas and an ability to link in with existing infrastructure and community facilities.

Gateway

The Swindon Gateway is a major development plan to fuse a university campus together with science parks and other amenties, providing an essential growth area that will bring great social and economic benefits to the town.

A Town In Transformation

There are also discussions to build a major campus for the University of the West of England and significantly improved sports facilities at the Oasis centre. Swindon also has a brand new library.