Swindon ready to deliver growth in Oxford-Cambridge corridor
Swindon is ready and able to play a central role in delivering growth across the Oxford-Cambridge corridor and the wider Thames Valley, the Government’s Science Minister has been told.
Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, visited Swindon on 19th February to hear how Swindon Borough Council is driving growth through immediate development and regeneration opportunities, while also attracting cutting-edge advanced manufacturing firms to boost its burgeoning reputation as a defence and technology hub.
The Minister was shown key regeneration sites, including Knowledge Central, a major regeneration project aimed at transforming approximately 100 acres of brownfield land around Swindon railway station into a premier district for business, education, and research.
The visit, hosted by Council Leader, Councillor Jim Robbins, Swindon South MP, Heidi Alexander, and Swindon North MP, Will Stone, showcased the Borough’s immediate delivery potential with projects such as Knowledge Central ready to progress at pace with targeted infrastructure support.
Lord Vallance met representatives from Business West and leading European drone manufacturer Tekever, which recently announced it is establishing the UK’s largest drone production facility in Swindon.
Meeting at the town’s historic Carriage Works, Lord Vallance also heard how the Council’s Heart of Swindon vision aims to deliver 8,000 new homes in central Swindon, and how the town is already a complementary partner to Oxford, bringing scale, affordability, and advanced manufacturing capability to strengthen the growth corridor utilising its ‘Swindon Make it Here’ place branding.
The Council also highlighted the case for a portfolio approach to housing delivery across the wider Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority to enable high-yield sites in stronger value areas to help unlock lower-yield urban regeneration sites in Swindon, a model successfully used in London.
Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said, “Swindon is ready to deliver and we can do so now. We have identified 8,000 new homes in our town centre, alongside transformational regeneration opportunities such as Knowledge Central, but we need modest, targeted infrastructure investment to unlock them.
“Our manufacturing base, growing R&D capability and emerging defence and drone technologies uniquely position Swindon within the Oxford–Cambridge corridor. We complement Oxford’s strengths by offering scale, affordability and the ability to turn innovation into production.
“Swindon has its head up. We are actively pursuing every opportunity to drive inclusive growth that benefits our residents directly. ‘Make It Here’ isn’t just a slogan, it is what we do.”
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said, “Swindon has the talent and infrastructure to play an important role in delivering on our ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, with particular strengths in advanced manufacturing, defence technology and aspects of pharmaceuticals.
“Our investment into East-West Rail, the Culham AI Growth Zone, and record backing for UK Research and Innovation is turning world class science into business opportunities, delivering new jobs and growth for the wider region.”
Heidi Alexander MP, commented, “I will be working closely with ministerial colleagues, Swindon Borough Council and our local businesses to ensure that Swindon’s potential is fully realised and that we secure the investment needed to unlock new homes, new jobs and long-term prosperity for our community.”
Matt Griffith, Director of Policy at Business West, described Swindon as an economic powerhouse with a can‑do attitude and a strong private sector. He added, “It [Swindon] has an enviable track record of being home for cutting-edge industries and has a natural complementarity as the place to make and grow the ideas being generated by Oxford and our high knowledge region.”
Pictured: (Top of page- left to right) Cllr Jim Robbins, Karl Brew, Will Stone MP and Lord Vallance in front of a Tekever Banner in Workshed, Swindon Carriage Works
