Work begins to deliver ‘transformational’ theatre and concert venue in Swindon

The regional-scale venue has been described by Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Councillor Jim Robbins, as a “transformational investment in Swindon’s future”. It was yesterday (19 March) awarded funding from the Government’s Growth Mission Fund (GMF) following a successful bid, allowing the Council to press ahead with the plans.

Cllr Robbins will give authorisation today (20 March) to kick-start the process of delivering the venue. It has been identified as a flagship catalyst for town centre regeneration and a central pillar of the Council’s Heart of Swindon vision, which aims to bring more homes, jobs, skills, culture and investment into the town centre.

If delivered, the £45m project is expected to create:

• 250 new jobs supported by the venue, plus 450 construction jobs
• a flexible modern performance space capable of hosting national touring shows, music, comedy, e‑sports and digital productions with space for 1,200 seats and a standing capacity of 2,000
• an estimated 265,000 annual ticket sales, supporting footfall and a more vibrant evening economy
• a catalyst for further private investment, increasing land values and accelerating delivery of the 8,000 planned homes and 6,000 jobs in the heart of Swindon
• a year‑round cultural asset integrated with Swindon’s creative, education and skills partners

The scheme will form a cornerstone of the wider transformation already taking shape in the town centre, including the completed Fleming Way transport hub, ongoing work at the Kimmerfields site (next door to where the venue will be located) and the early plans to develop 100 acres of brownfield land next to Swindon’s train station, known as Knowledge Central.

The new venue would elevate Swindon’s cultural sector, working with arts organisations already in the town and encouraging future generations of young people to get involved in theatre and the arts.

Council officers will now immediately work up the full business case to support the full financial envelope needed to deliver the landmark building, before this is formally put to councillors in July. Following this, a delivery team would then be put in place to commission the venue and establish a timeframe for opening.

The Wyvern Theatre would remain open until the new venue is built.

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “This is a huge moment for our town, and I’d like to thank the Government and our two MPs who have really championed Swindon and lobbied for this much-needed funding.

“There is still a lot of work to do, but we have significantly reduced what was a large funding shortfall and can now move forward with confidence to deliver a facility everyone in Swindon can be proud of.

“The funding from the Government means we can be even more ambitious about the type of venue we can deliver. It must be modern, high quality and flexible so we create a regional destination with double the capacity of the much-loved Wyvern and able to attract national touring shows and big music acts to our town. Put simply, it will be a game changer for Swindon.

“The venue will bring new energy, new audiences and new investment into the town centre. It will help unlock the wider regeneration that residents rightly expect to create more jobs, more activity, greater confidence, and a night‑time economy that feels vibrant and safe.

“We are determined to build a town centre that reflects Swindon’s creativity and ambition. Delivering this venue is a major step in turning that ambition into reality, and over the coming months we’ll be working at real pace to make it happen.”