Swindon Borough Council has spent more than £2m on repairs for the iconic Mechanics Institute in the town, despite having never owned the building, said Councillor Gary Perkins, cabinet member for regeneration and economy this week.

That was the message given to Swindon Chamber of Commerce members at the latest Corporate Insight Dinner, held at the The Pear Tree in Purton.

  • The Institute is famous for being the birthplace of the National Health Service in this country but has been closed for the last 30 years. It has gradually deteriorated so much that it is in the top ten of Victorian buildings under threat in the UK.
  •  The company which owned the building went into liquidation and the Institute is now owned by the Crown Estates.
  • Coun Perkins said there was now light on the horizon and in the immediate future there were plans for business development in that part of the town which would be attractive to both large and small for organisations like the Chamber. This could involve upwards of 100 new businesses in the future.
  • There was an industrial plan for the former carriage works as well as the Institute where consultants were working on a scheme which would be released in the New Year.
  •  In addition, the Swindon master plan for the town centre development continues with plans for new public buildings and car parks.

     Also speaking at the dinner was Dr Dave Richards who gave a talk on Inspiring Innovation.