New homes, venues and 'student village' in plan

More detail has been added to ambitious plans to revitalise a town centre with new homes, entertainment venues and education facilities.

The Heart of Swindon regeneration plans have already been pitched to investors and the town's council has been granted £100,000 by Homes England to properly draw up plans and designs.

Council leader Jim Robbins said the scheme would mean building upwards, with tower blocks in the centre and more residents getting spectacular views.

He also said a space next to the railway station could be for an education facility, with parking moved to be multi-storey.

"There's an eight-acre space right next to the railway station that also joins up with the Carriageworks," Mr Robbins said.

"We won't get a University of Swindon out of it – but we want to get places like Oxford Brookes University, or Bristol or Bath University, places like that to have a building or an institute here."

This "learning zone" would see car parking in the area moved.

The Heart of Swindon strategy also said it would "deliver central housing for young learners in the town centre that brings students together from across the town's higher-education establishments".

These would include the Wilkes Academy, the UTC Swindon, New College and Oxford Brookes' Swindon Campus.

A lot of the plans can be best imagined from up high, with Mr Robbins explaining from the top of the 21-storey David Murray John Tower in the centre of Swindon.

"You can see how the whole town fits together," said Mr Robbins.

It is hoped that including homes in the centre for around 8,000 people would also attract new businesses - particularly those that open in the evening such as bars.

The Brunel Centre site is one of those being looking at for redevelopment.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.