DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg visited Swindon yesterday to outline plans to redevelop the town centre.

His trip coincided with an announcement which will see £11.5m given to the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership from the Government between 2016 and 2021 as part of a growth deal.

This is on top of the £130m already allocated.

The Swindon portion of the money will be put towards the second phase of Kimmerfields development, which will see a new bus interchange built in Fleming Way.

During Mr Clegg’s visit he went on a tour of the town to the look at the current bus station and hear about how it will change.

As well as seeing Swindon’s future he also learned of some of its current problems as he saw a handful of homeless people in the bypass at The Parade. But he said the money would mean a transformation for Swindon.

“It will see a car park knocked down and this whole area redeveloped with a new bus station,” he said.

“This is about taking money locked up in Whitehall and giving local decision makers an opportunity.

“A quiet revolution is underway in regions across the country and Growth Deals signal the death of the culture where Whitehall calls the shots.

“I’ve seen for myself the difference it makes to give local areas real power over skills, over business support, and over infrastructure spending.”

Phase one of the Kimmerfields development has seen a new car park and sheltered accommodation built.

As well as the bus station, Fleming Way will be levelled and closed off to traffic as part of the second phase.

The final part of the project will see offices and shops built on the site of the walk-in centre on Carfax Street, which is soon to be moved over the road to complete the first phase.

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick), said: “The announcement of the funding to enable the building of the new Bus Exchange is very welcome and a great indication of support for the regeneration of the town centre in Swindon.

“We have a strong partnership in place to deliver this project which will provide a tremendous gateway into the centre of the town.

“It will benefit the residents of Swindon and the wider area and, crucially support the development of Kimmerfields, the new professional and business heart of the borough.”

In Wiltshire, improvement projects include changing the West Ashton/Yarnbrook junction on the A350 and opening a digital industries centre in Corsham.