New theatre and concert venue moves step closer

Plans for a new theatre and concert venue have moved a step closer.

Swindon Borough Council's cabinet meeting on Wednesday approved spending up to £40,000 on a specialist advisor.

Councillors also approved building the new venue at the current bus station, Kimmerfields, which is due to be cleared next year.

Councillor Jim Robbins, council leader, said: “I’m excited to be bringing this forward, this could be the first part of the Heart of Swindon vision to be delivered."

Although work is at an early stage, a construction method similar to the 3,000-capacity space Abba Voyage Arena in east London is a favoured option, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service

Known as a ‘modern construction’ the arena is modular, mostly built offsite and assembled in situ and can be demounted and moved elsewhere.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, cabinet member for culture, said: “This would be only the second completed ‘modern construction; outside of London.

"This is another sign that Swindon isn’t copying other places, it isn’t aspiring to be like somewhere else. This is a theatre for the post-Covid, post-Amazon, post-Doordash world.”

The Wyvern Theatre is nearing the end of its life and is expected to close by 2027. It is hoped that the new venue will open before then.

Councillor Gary Sumner - from the opposition Conservative group - was not at the meeting but later said: “While we support the principle, the LGA Peer review said the financial threat to the council could be existential.

“Is this the right moment to be heading into more borrowing for something which the private sector could deliver if it is so viable?" he added.

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