• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Tuesday November 3 2026

Swindon businesses to vote on £2.5m plan to improve town centre

Businesses in Swindon are to vote on plans for a new Business Improvement District that could bring around £2.5m of extra investment to the town centre and surrounding areas over five years.

If approved, the BID would bring together businesses across the town centre, Old Town, the Railway Quarter and North Star.

It would be led and funded by local firms, giving them a collective voice and dedicated funding for improvements beyond existing council, police and other public services.

Proposals include a dedicated street team, more support to tackle anti-social behaviour, environmental improvements, and events designed to attract more visitors to the town centre and Old Town.

The BID could raise more than £500,000 a year. The Shadow BID Board’s business plan sets out four priorities: cleaner, greener and safer streets; events and activities that bring more people into the area; promoting Swindon as a place to shop, eat, work and spend time; and support for local businesses and employers.

More than 330 BIDs operate across the UK, including in Bath, Bristol, Reading, Winchester and Cheltenham. They allow businesses to pool funding and work together on improvements in the areas where they trade.

Councillor Matthew Vallender, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, planning and regeneration, urged eligible businesses to back the proposal.

“I’m really pleased the vote to establish a BID is now underway and I hope local businesses will back the proposal,” he said.

“The Council will continue to play its part in improving the town centre and surrounding areas. It should be somewhere people are proud to visit, where businesses can thrive and where there are more reasons to keep coming back.

“A BID would put local businesses at the heart of that work, giving them a stronger voice and dedicated funding for extra improvements, and events and activities that support our local economy.

“This is a real opportunity to build momentum and turn ambition into action.”

Laura James, chair of the Shadow Swindon BID Board, said businesses wanted cleaner, safer streets, more visitors and a greater say over the future of the areas where they operate.

“Swindon has enormous potential, but we need to be honest about the challenges facing our town centre and Old Town,” she said.

“This BID is about taking back control and putting businesses in the driving seat. It gives us the opportunity to stop simply talking about the improvements we need and start delivering them, with over £2.5m to invest over five years.

“We have a real opportunity to bring businesses together, rebuild confidence and make Swindon somewhere people are proud to visit, work and invest in.”

Eligible businesses can vote between 6 November and 3 December 2026. The Shadow BID Board will hold a series of information events in the coming weeks.