Vision for the future

A huge team comprising the country's top planners and designers have spent nearly a year drawing up a £97,000 30-year study, commissioned by Swindon Council.

It proposes a completely transformed town centre featuring public squares, boulevards and a revitalised cultural scene with a 24-hour library, art gallery and multiplex cinema.

The North Star area would also face an ambitious overhaul, becoming a science and education park nestled among a green space and a lake.

The main University of Bath in Swindon campus would be located there next to Swindon College's new complex, a rebuilt Oasis leisure centre, company buildings and houses.

In Old Town, the parking system would be shaken up to encourage more speciality shops and residential and office developments.

All three areas would be linked by a modern ultra-light tram system running at regular intervals around the borough in a figure of eight loop.

It would be based at a new transport interchange at Bridge Street, also housing buses and trains.

The majority of funding for the scheme which would put Swindon on a par with cities like Zurich or Dublin would come from the private sector, although the council would contribute in most areas.

The blueprint, which was being launched today, will now be the subject of an intensive public consultation process before the council decides whether or not to press ahead with the scheme.

A preliminary report on the reactions of businesses, community groups, agencies and residents is expected to reach the council by soon after Christmas.

And if the response is positive, work on some of the Vision's ideas such as the University of Bath in Swindon's North Star buildings could commence within the next decade.

The South West Regional Development Agency has already told the council it sees it as a "flagship project" with which to get involved.

The report has been heralded as a landmark document in the history and future of Swindon by the council's chief executive, Paul Doherty.

"This provides a model of Swindon as a state-of-the-art, world-class European city. Swindon people now have to decide whether that vision is what they want," he said.

"Some time ago Swindon Council and the business community jointly developed the slogan 'Swindon - A City for the 21st Century'. This document offers one way of doing this which should excite, enthuse and challenge people.

"If the proposals are endorsed they are very, very realistic."

Mr Doherty is particularly impressed with the proposed North Star development and the overhaul of the town's public transport.

"What excites me the most is the concept of an urban park which would be the foundation of the Swindon economy over the next 30 years," he said.

The plans have a European feel to them, with ideas of boulevards and squares, which would be more in keeping with any town aiming for city status.

Swindon would get its long campaigned for new library under the proposals a state-of-the-art multi-media building with full internet access and an internet cafe along with a new art gallery.

And transport in the town centre would be revolutionised with a new ultra light tram system linking key destinations in Swindon. This is seen as the key to the success of the 30 Year Vision connecting all the separate zones of the town together.

Swindon would also have a new art gallery on the site of Swindon College's present home to display its growing collection of modern art and touring exhibitions and temporary shows. The redevelopment of Swindon College could also feature a new hotel and other buildings.

The consultants believe it could be funded by council money and corporate sponsorship along with Lottery funds and a partnership with a developer. Again corporate events and profits from shops and a cafe at the gallery would pay for its running costs.

The town's cultural profile would also be raised by building a third multiplex cinema in the town centre close to the library and art gallery. There are also suggestions to improve the Wyvern Theatre which the report says has no artistic direction and lacks an appealing programme.

It is proposed the council should look at different ways of funding and running it and develop stronger links with Swindon Dance. The dance company itself would be better located in a new purpose built building nearby, according to the report.

Around these landmark cultural buildings in the centre of the town the 30 Year Vision proposes a series of improved small-scale streets.

A mix of pavement cafes, bars and speciality shops such as boutiques would spring up along these roads to revitalise the town centre shopping area and give it a medieval core.

These, along with a proposal to give pedestrians priority in the town centre, are designed to ensure it is as attractive to customers as out-of-town retail outlets.

But as well as small shops, restaurants and cafes, large companies would also be encouraged to move into the town centre instead of basing themselves round the edges of Swindon. It is proposed major new offices could create jobs for up to 20,000 people.

Development is also suggested at the Granville Street car park site and later the Brunel South car park by 2006 to strengthen the town's retail buildings. Under this the House of Fraser department store would be improved.

By 2011 it is also suggested up to 35,000 square metres of retail space could be developed.

The new library, art gallery, theatre and cinema would also look out onto a new civic square Regent Square at Regent Circus which would become a place for town activities, public events and celebrations and home to night-life.

A second square Station Square is also planned as a busy forecourt also lined with bars and cafes to a new transport interchange.

It would be a base for buses and trains but also the new trams.

Running in a figure of eight loop, the ultra light railway would initially connect the town centre with the new North Star development and could then be extended to link up Old Town, the Front Garden and the Designer Outlet Village .

It is seen as the only way to tackle increasing congestion and pollution in the town and would offer a reliable, easy and relatively cheap way of getting in and out of Swindon with trams running at regular intervals.

The tram system could be funded through the Regional Development Agency, the council and a commercial loan while fares would meet its running costs.

Under the proposals the interchange would be located at Bridge Street and could incorporate the town's existing railway station which would therefore have to be moved west nearer to the town centre.

One of the main frustrations for pedestrians in the town is the difficulty in crossing the railway line from the north to the south side of the town centre.

At present there are only two or three crossings but the study suggests creating a series of modern and safe pedestrian underpasses.

Major construction work is also proposed for Fleming Way and Princes Street. In line with the idea of giving Swindon a more cosmopolitan, modern feel, the vision suggests dropping Fleming Way by 25ft, removing the subway to give easy access to the Post Office site and bus station.

The central barriers would come down in both Fleming Way and Princes Street to create boulevards with pedestrian crossing points and through traffic would be re-routed around the town centre.

The proposals also consider opening up a canal on Fleming Way where one used to run and removing roundabouts and one way systems. Bath Road and the High Street could then be environmentally improved with 20mph speed restrictions.

The European theme behind the proposals extends to the subject of accommodation in the town centre.

The vision suggests creating around 2,000 apartments in high rise buildings similar to the Plaza 21 development, designed for people who want to live close to where they work.

North Star will be transformed into a thriving business, education and residential community under the new proposals.

The plans aim to create an urban or science park combining a mix of company offices, shops and houses with a quiet, green open space which can be used by the public.

The development would underpin the 30 Year Vision, encouraging investment in business and education and acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre.

North Star has already been named as the new site for Swindon College's new £23.6 million campus. Under the proposals it would also become home to the University of Bath in Swindon's main site.

In order to balance the North Star development, consultants Shillum & Smith also propose building houses to make the area safer and transform it into a rounded community.

It is believed that many of the residents would live and work in North Star. Smaller shops, restaurants and leisure facilities would also spring up, offering evening as well as daytime activities.

The whole North Star site would be based around a green area with trees and a large lake with a bridge and walkway designed to act as a calm, focal point.

It would be linked by the proposed tram system so that students, workers and residents could have easy and cheap transport to the town centre and other parts of Swindon so they would not feel cut off.

The plans represent a huge development occupying a great deal of land including the Hawksworth Industrial Estate.

It is proposed it would take part in four stages. Firstly the area around the warehouse for Clares Retail Equipment would be re-developed and then it is proposed to knockdown and rebuild the ageing Oasis leisure centre in North Star.

This would be replaced with a state-of-the-art modern building and the vision suggests this could also house a private health club if it is funded by a developer partnership.

The Oasis could then be used by around 10,000 new employees and residents in the area. However, unlike the present leisure centre, it is proposed that a new Oasis would be purely an indoor facility.

Phase three would see the BT site at North Star re-developed and work would then move on to the Hawksworth business park, re-locating businesses and factories.

The whole North Star development would be funded by private developers and the University of Bath in Swindon under the proposals. Swindon Council would underwrite the cost of masterplanning and landscaping.