Call for community groups to help shape the names of Swindon’s future streets

Swindon Borough Council is therefore inviting parish councils, community organisations, community leaders and local heritage groups to play a direct role in shaping the identity of future development sites by submitting suggestions for new street names.

As new developments come forward across the Borough, the Council is keen to ensure that the names of streets and public spaces reflect the history, culture and identity of Swindon’s communities.

Street naming is an important opportunity to celebrate the people, landscapes, events and traditions that contribute to the Borough’s distinctiveness.

There are more than 3,000 streets across the Borough named after famous engineers from Swindon’s railway past to former Swindon Town footballers and old landmarks that no longer exist.

In one of Swindon’s newest developments at Wichelstowe, a number of the roads in Middle Wichel are canal-themed in reference to the new canal that is being built by the joint venture partnership between the Council and Barratt Developments, which is creating the new community.

Meanwhile, the names of the streets in the current phase of West Wichel are all orchard-related with some of the streets named after specific apples native to Wiltshire, saplings of which have been planted within the development itself.

The Council is particularly encouraging names that:

• reflect notable local historical figures, events or landmarks
• celebrate geographical features or long‑established field names
• recognise Swindon’s cultural, industrial or agricultural heritage
• promote a strong sense of place and community identity

To support the assessment process, groups are being asked to include a short explanation of the historical or community significance of each proposed name, along with any supporting references or information.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: “Street names become part of people’s lives for generations, so choosing them thoughtfully matters. My favourite street name is actually a nickname - Vic Hill (Victoria Road) is both a great abbreviation and a case of typically English irreverence.

“But the name tells a story, too. Queen Victoria was on the throne when Old Town and New Town became a single Borough of Swindon, and she gave her name to the main road connecting the two.

“We want new developments in Swindon to feel rooted in the character and history of our communities and places. Local people, parish councils and heritage groups hold a huge wealth of knowledge about the stories and identities that make each part of Swindon unique.

“By working together, we can ensure that future neighbourhoods celebrate that richness and honour it for years to come.”

Engaging with local partners at this early stage will help the Council embed local identity into new developments from the outset, speed up response times to developers, and ensure that growth enhances rather than diminishes Swindon’s sense of place.

The Council is asking for suggested street names to be submitted by 31 May. Submissions and queries can be emailed to: gazetteers@swindon.gov.uk