Ref. 24908-69THE owner of the Mechanics' Institute says any further problems with his plans to develop the 150-year-old building may mean he quits Swindon.

Mathew Singh is planning to make the town the headquarters for his companies, which would see £50 million worth of business coming to Swindon.

However, he has become disenchanted with the planning process and says while he is committed to seeing the Mechanics' Institute project through, his advisers have told him that if the saga drags on he should base himself in Reading.

Mr Singh said: "I was planning to be based in Swindon and invest in the town.

"But my advisers are saying that if the Mechanics' keeps getting delayed, they want to move to Reading.

"This would mean £50 million, not to mention indirect investment that would come with basing companies down here, would be lost."

Tonight Swindon Council's planning committee will consider an application for the south end of the Mechanics' Institute, which is the first stage in turning it into a business centre with a hotel, short-stay apartments and a conference centre.

It would be managed by Swindon Chamber, which has promised to bring world-class facilities to Swindon. This would be a boost for the business community, both in getting new businesses off the ground and in encouraging large firms to move to the area.

Mr Singh said: "I am wholeheartedly glad that the Chamber is supporting the Mechanics' and I think it is not just a workable idea but one that is potentially one of the most exciting things in Swindon.

"A lot of groups are interested in coming in to the Mechanics' it is a great opportunity."