N.B. You can see original article, including artist’s rendering of the proposed venue, here.
Plans to build a new state-of-the-art entertainment venue in Swindon town centre are set to move a step forward when the Council’s Cabinet meets next week (13 November).
Analysis by theatre specialists has concluded that Swindon is well placed to host a new regional scale entertainment venue, able to cater for a wide range of events including large West End touring shows, music concerts and other big events.
The Cabinet will be asked to approve the location of a future town centre entertainment venue, with a report recommending the current bus station site as the most suitable. Alternative sites have been ruled out due to their size, configuration or cost to modify. The bus station is already set to be demolished following the completion of the Fleming Way improvement scheme.
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. This would determine the costs of the project and the Council’s financial contribution.
The detailed business case work would establish whether the Council would build the venue to an agreed specification for the preferred operator, or whether the operator would build and manage the venue.
In the meantime, an outline business case has identified that a major a new entertainment venue could provide a catalyst for growing the heart of Swindon’s food, beverage and leisure economy and attracting visitors and wider economic benefits to the town centre.
To significantly reduce the cost and timeframe to build a venue, the outline business case recommends pursuing a lightweight steel structure and modular components.
The outline business case was also informed by a high-level design concept prepared by one of Europe’s leading entertainment venue architects Stufish Entertainment Architects, designers of the Abba Arena in East London. This design work explored the optimum capacity and technical capability, overlaying the footprint of the current bus station site.
The project is one of the Council’s flagship commitments in the performance framework that supports the delivery of the Swindon Plan, linked to the mission to ‘Build a Better Swindon’.
It is also referenced in the draft ‘Heart of Swindon’ vision document that is being tabled at November’s Cabinet meeting. This sets out eight ambitions to reinvent the town centre in the years ahead, developed through a council-led collaboration with partners.
Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “Swindon deserves a state-of-the-art entertainment venue which would also bring many wider benefits to the town centre and local economy.
“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.”
Colin Skellett, Chair of Business West, said: “A new cultural venue would be transformative for Swindon, and we fully support efforts to make this happen. Business West is committed to strengthening our region’s cultural fabric which is a key driver of economic growth.
“We see the benefit not just for residents, but for local businesses and the visitor economy too.”