SWINDON is getting ready to start preparing its bid for a university.

Higher Education Funding for England (HEFCE) has published guidance on how towns from across the country should bid for funding.

Councillor Philip Young, Swindon Council cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We are absolutely committed to a town centre site for the university. All the conversations we are having with funding providers are about the town centre.

“We will take away the guidelines and will look at them to fully understand how best we can enter our bid for funding.

“We won’t let Coate and the location issue of the university divert us.”

But he insisted the University of the West of England (UWE) is still the best education facility for the town, despite it wanting to build near beauty spot Coate Water.

A planning inquiry into the merits of that plan has been hearing evidence for several weeks and is expected to wrap up this week.

“I am really confident that we can put the case together that Swindon needs a university,” said Mr Young.

“It is down to us that the message gets through to Government and that it understands what we will deliver.”

Twenty seven towns around the country have said they are interested in having a university.