Car manufacturer Honda has bid a final “sad” farewell to Swindon with a departing gift which is designed to be a reminder of the company’s time in the town.

Honda Heritage Garden was unveiled as part of the company’s “positive and lasting legacy” to the community before the remaining 40-odd staff members leave the South Marston site in July.

Honda announced in 2019 that the Swindon plant would close after 35 years with 3,500 job losses. Production ended in July 2021 and the decommissioning process will finish at the end of next month.

But Jason Smith, Honda’s UK manufacturing director, revealed that, anecdotally, 94 per cent of the company’s former employees have achieved “their desired outcomes” either through new employment, retirement, or by setting up their own businesses.

He added: “It’s been quite a big journey from 2019 to where we are today and it’s been challenging but I think that all the objectives of closing the plant have been achieved.

Swindon Advertiser:

“We have a lasting legacy and there’s all the work the senior management team have done to support people to find new jobs and to achieve their desired outcomes.

“I think as a company we will miss the community feel of the business and the positive values that we instilled as part of Honda. 

“We really wanted to create a space that both our past associates and the community can visit for years to come as a reminder of our time in Swindon.

“Fortunately we’ve sold the site to a responsible new owner and hopefully that will generate new jobs for the local community as well. Hopefully that will more than replace the jobs lost by Honda leaving.

Swindon Advertiser:

Panattoni has bought the 370 acre Honda site and has committed to pump over £700m into its regeneration and redevelopment. The plans are expected to create 7,000 new jobs over the next ten years.

Panattoni’s development director James Watson attended the ribbon cutting event for the official unveiling of the new garden and mentioned that the Swindon site was the “obvious choice” for his company’s multi-million pound project.

Swindon Advertiser:

The garden has a play area with obvious symbolic nods to Swindon’s engineering heritage including train, airplane and car structures.

It is hoped the community garden space will be used by people to grow flowers, fruits and vegetables while the cherry orchard was planted in honour of Honda’s Japanese heritage.

Honda has also donated STEM learning kits and a number of Honda vehicles to local colleges in a bid to inspire future generations of engineers and maintain Swindon’s engineering heritage.

Mr Smith added: “While we’re very sad to be leaving Honda, we’re confident that between this garden and in other ways, we’ll continue to support the local community.”