Forward Swindon, on behalf of Swindon Borough Council, has commissioned Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners to prepare a masterplan for Swindon town centre, the rationale being that it is time to review the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities our town centre presents in achieving a heart for Swindon and anchoring successful and sustainable growth.

The masterplan will provide a blueprint / delivery framework to achieve the physical and economic transformation of Swindon town centre in accordance with strategic policy objectives set out in the Borough Council's Central Area Action Plan and Core Strategy documents. The focus of the masterplan will be economic growth and it will set out proposals for further investment in high quality development, public realm and infrastructure. It will identify the key projects needed to make Swindon town centre more attractive, successful and competitive. It will also aim to give clarity, direction and confidence to public and private sector partners and investors.

Although there has been a number of proposals for individual sites over the years, a physical masterplan is considered necessary to set a clear, long-term framework for development in the town centre. There is considered to be a lack of clarity on the preferred approach for the town centre with insufficient stakeholder ‘buy-in’ to previous proposals. Thus, this new masterplan needs to be driven by local key stakeholders in order to ensure it actively supported and consensus is achieved.

To facilitate this, Forward Swindon and Allies and Morrison have devised a 'Planning Swindon Together' process to deliver highly focused, clear, practical and comprehensive outcomes for the masterplan. During February and March 2012 three Planning Swindon Together events were held to provide civic and business leaders with the opportunity to drive the process of improving and redesigning Swindon town centre. In June further consultation will take place (details to be announced) involving the general public; our aim is to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be involved in the masterplan process and can see direct outcomes from their involvement.

The masterplan will sit alongside the Borough Council's Central Area Action Plan and Core Strategy documents and will be used to assist in the determination of planning applications once it has been through the appropriate consultation and adoption channels. Its importance will be as a tool to guide and influence future development proposals and to instil more confidence and certainty amongst potential inward investors into the town centre. It will do this by providing a level of detail beneath the provisions of the Central Area Action Plan and Core Strategy documents.