A new entertainment venue for Swindon will be on the agenda at council meeting on Wednesday (November 13).
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve a central location for the new theatre, likely to be the site of the current bus station (pictured), which is already set to be demolished following the completion of the Fleming Way improvement scheme.
The theatre and arts proposal is listed as its own agenda item but is also part of the Heart of Swindon document which envisages major regeneration of the town and which will also be discussed at the meeting.
Councillors will be asked to approve up to £40,000 for officers to develop a detailed business case for the theatre, which would determine costs and what financial contribution the council could make.
The detailed business case work would explore whether the council could build the venue to an agreed specification for a preferred operator, or whether the operator would build and manage the venue.
Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins said: “Swindon deserves a state-of-the-art entertainment venue which would also bring many wider benefits to the town centre and local economy.
“It’s understandable why some people may view this project with scepticism, given the council’s financial position. But I’m confident that there is a realistic prospect of getting to a robust business case that demonstrates that a commercially viable venue can be built cost effectively and in a timely manner.
“This project would be a catalyst, helping to turbocharge the wider reinvention of the town centre.”
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