SWINDON Borough Council is planning to invest more than £100m in the town centre over the next four years to help it bounce back from the economic effects of the pandemic.

This funding will pay for projects including public realm improvements, like the new bus interchange along Fleming Way which will be built later in the year.

Major regeneration projects have been earmarked through the Towns Fund Board, which aim to restore important heritage buildings and make them more attractive to visitors, as well as increase jobs and skills through a new hub for learning, creative and digital technology industries in the historic Carriage Works.

A six-storey block of new eco-friendly modern offices for Zurich are almost complete and the nearby Kimmerfields site will deliver 100,000 sq ft of high quality office space, up to 450 homes and a Cultural Quarter featuring a new theatre, media arts centre and art pavilion over the coming years.

The local authority says these additions will help to increase land values and make Swindon more attractive to commercial investors who will provide new services, attractions, homes and workplaces.

Borough council leader David Renard said: “We know Covid-19 has had a major impact on our high street, and the figures from Centre for Cities highlight how these challenges have been reflected right across the country.

“But I think it’s encouraging that the economic experts believe Swindon is well placed to recover quickly and we are already seeing signs of that locally with a number of new businesses opening up over the last few months, which is really positive.

“Our town centre will need to adapt over the next few years and become a place where people come to meet and socialise as well as shop.

“Over the next four years, the council is leading over £100m of investment in public realm improvements and regeneration projects within the town centre to increase land values and make Swindon more attractive to potential investors.

“Although the council doesn’t own the majority of land in the town centre, we are working with private landowners to help them bring empty shops back into use.”