• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Thursday March 19 2026

Swindon gets £20 million for new entertainment venue

Swindon is getting £20 million of government cash to build a new economy-boosting entertainment venue in the centre of the town.

The funding – from the Growth Mission Fund – will see a theatre and music venue built on the site of the former bus station, which has been demolished.

The news was announced today (Thursday) just one day after the town was told it had made the final nine in the search for the UK’s City of Culture 2029.

The venue will have a seating capacity of 1,200 and a standing capacity of 2,000, and will host music, arts and other cultural events.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, who earlier this week identified investment in towns, cities and areas previously overlooked as one of her top priorities to build a stronger and more secure economy, said: “My economic plan to build a stronger and more secure economy is the right one – cutting the cost of living, cutting the national debt, and creating the conditions for growth.

“Backing Swindon with this £20 million investment is part of this plan. The new entertainment venue that will be built with this funding will make the town a more attractive place to live, work and start a business in the years to come.”

Councillor Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “This funding from the government is massive for Swindon.

“This administration promised the delivery of a new theatre to kickstart growth in our Heart of Swindon vision and today we are delivering on that promise.

“The entertainment venue sends a really clear message to investors that Swindon is on the up and now is the time for them to invest.

“We’ll be working at real pace now to get the designs confirmed, construction started and the new venue open.

“I’m hugely grateful to Rachel Reeves and the Government for making this decisive investment in Swindon and to our great local MPs, Will Stone and Heidi Alexander, for promoting the bid and really explaining the benefits it will bring to the town.

“Swindon is ready to play a key role in the Government’s desire to boost the economy and growth, and a revitalised town centre is exactly what we need to help attract even more jobs to Swindon.

“The development will also allow us to build on the strong history of theatre in Swindon, started by GWR workers and developed by the great productions at the Wyvern Theatre, which will remain open until the new venue is up and running.”

The Growth Mission Fund, from which this investment comes, is focused on supporting projects that have been previously overlooked which contribute to local growth, create jobs, support the regeneration and maintenance of heritage and culture assets, or other important local policy objectives.

Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander said: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Labour Government has agreed to help fund a new entertainment venue in the heart of Swindon, on the site of the old bus station.

“This is a vote of confidence in the ambitious town centre regeneration plans of Swindon’s Labour-run council and the leadership of Jim Robbins.

“Last year, working with Swindon Borough Council, I started to make the case with ministerial colleagues for public investment in this project to kickstart economic revitalisation in the town centre.

“There was no fanfare around this work – I just got on with the job I was elected to do. Making the case for investment in Swindon alongside the excellent Will Stone for Swindon North.

“For too long, the old bus station and the area around it has been an eyesore. Yet it has so much potential.

“Land in public ownership, just minutes away from Swindon train station and the redesigned Fleming Way.

“If we’re going to build new homes in the town centre and breathe new life into the empty buildings and run down streets, we must ensure we’ve got the social infrastructure in place too.

“That means a theatre and performance space fit for a town of our size. A place where bigger productions can be put on and where we can build a decent town centre leisure offer around it.

“As a kid growing up in Swindon, I remember our town centre being a place where people wanted to visit – I want that for our town again.

“We can’t fix all of the town’s problems overnight but we’ve got the vision and ambition – and now the money – to start putting Swindon back on the map for good!”

And Will Stone, MP for Swindon North, said: “This is an incredible next step for Swindon, providing a venue that can attract bigger artists, bands and theatre shows and act as a catalyst of growth for local bars, businesses and restaurants.

“I’m really pleased that the Chancellor saw the value of this entertainment venue for our town.”