The new Cultural Heritage Institute of the Royal Agricultural University which was opened officially yesterday is part of 'Swindon's renaissance' according to both academics and councillors.

The department which is already teaching post-graduate students in its buildings in the refurbished GWR Carriage Works in railway Village, and which will welcome undergraduates from next autumn, has been developed after a lot of co-operative work by the university based in Cirencester and Swindon Borough Council.

The institute's director Dr Geraint Coles was one of four who used long-handled shears to cut the ribbon along with the university's vice chancellor Peter McCaffery, Swindon Mayor Garry Perkins and the leader of the council David Renard.

Dr Coles said: "I'd like to thank Swindon Borough Council and the people of Swindon for their support. The people of Swindon have been interested in what we're doing here, and for too long we've been waiting to get to this point."

Dr Coles said: With the building delivered thanks to the borough council, and the academic framework delivered thanks to the university, it's now time to make this place central to the heritage management profession - it's a really exciting time to be involved in this project."

Coun Renard said the institute, along with other renovations of the Carriage Works, and other work in the town centre were: "part of Swindon's renaissance. We're good at reinventing ourselves here." Mr McCaffery said: "Swindon is soon to be the heritage capital of Britain, and we're glad to be playing our part in its renaissance."

After minor glitches with IT there was even a surprise address by professor Mark Horton. The director of research at the university is well-known to millions as one of the presenters of TV show Coast. He was speaking over a web link having had to self-isolate.

He said: "It's been a long time since I first visited the Carriage Works and stood among the dead pigeons on the floor. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was one of the first shareholders of the university, and it's great to be opening in the Heritage centre of England that is Swindon- with the National Trust, Historic England and the Science Museum down the road in Wroughton - this has been an extraordinary alignment of stars."