24/09/10 - Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article

Town Centre regeneration, particularly at the Regent Circus college site, is now at a crossroads.   On the one hand, this is the first major piece of regeneration, and we have to get it right.  However, as has been reported in the Advertiser, the perceived poor design of the development is raising real concerns.

The plans for Regent Circus consist of a cinema, shops, restaurants, a Morrison’s supermarket and an 800 space car park.   It sounds like a good idea, but there are some real question marks about the design and appearance of the development.  A few days ago, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment issued a report calling for a radical rethink.  They didn’t mince their words, calling the design ‘awkward, unpleasant and unimaginative’.    Let’s be clear, I’m a bit uneasy about a faceless, remote quango sticking its nose into Swindon’s business.  But they are experts, and their comments were pretty unequivocal.

In addition, my South Swindon colleague Robert Buckland, whose constituency includes Regent Circus, has written to the consultants to express his concerns.  Robert tells me that the consultants have declined to meet him to discuss the issue, which is a surprising response.  Yes, there have been extensive consultations already, but surely any opportunity to engage with the local community should be welcomed?   Everyone should be involved – the MPs, the Council, local residents and businesses, Forward Swindon and all other interested parties.  Robert and I will continue to work together on this.

Since being elected I’ve dedicated a lot of time to meeting with various groups to try and push forward our much-needed town centre regeneration.  I wear several hats, not just as one of the town’s MPs.  I’m also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Small Shops and Retailers.   I’ll continue to push for high quality developments including the provision of small shop units, ideal for local independent retailers to provide the character our town centre needs.

Swindon’s regeneration was thwarted, along with all regeneration projects in the UK, as the economy collapsed.  But as it recovers, thanks to the forward-thinking attitude of Swindon Council, our town is best placed to move forward.   We have 300 thousand people within 20 minutes travelling distance of Swindon.   We need the highest-quality developments to attract as many of them as possible. 

Whilst it’s tempting to chase ahead to get this first piece of the jigsaw in place, Swindon Council should stand firm and not compromise on quality.  These buildings will last many generations, so we mustn’t make the mistake of rushing in until we’re sure the proposed development is the right one.