Promise 35

Working alongside the New Swindon Company, the town centre will be regenerated into a vibrant heart of the town and borough. It will include a new library, unique shopping environment with a market square, and new leisure, commercial and residential facilities.

Progress

The regeneration of Canal Walk public realm started in August 2009 and is due for completion in March 2010.

Regent Street has funding allocated and will begin immediately following Canal Walk.

Funding for the Station Forecourt has been secured and concept designs are progressing in partnership with Network Rail and First Great Western.

The redevelopment of BHS at The Parade was granted planning permission on 2 July 2009 and is due to start on site in January 2010 with construction lasting 18 months.

Muse propose to submit a full planning application for Plot N (Old Police Station site) in October 2009 with an outline for the remainder of the site in early 2010. The first phase involves the relocation of the Primary Care Trust from Carfax Street, a multi storey car park and sheltered accommodation which is being part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency Housing Grant.

Negotiations with the developers at Regent Circus are ongoing to ensure the highest quality of development at this key gateway location.

In addition to long term projects, a series of shorter term measures to lessen the impact of the recession on the Town Centre are being considered to improve footfall and visitor experience.

The Council terminated the development agreement with Modus on 3 August 2009. We also reversed our resolution to use our Compulsory Purchase powers to facilitate the development. Discussions about our new approach to this area are ongoing.

Promise 36

By 2006, we will publish Swindon Design Codes that will ensure a high quality of development. They will incorporate the very best practice and guide all new developments so that we have control of the future look and feel of the borough. This will include guidelines for shop frontages.

Progress

Achieved.

Promise 37

No significant new developments will be approved before the full transport implications are fully evaluated and plans for funding and implementation of any transport schemes are in place.

Progress

Achieved.

Promise 38

We will complete the ‘Streets for Living’ project in the Central area of the Town, creating a place that improves quality of life for all.

Progress

Achieved.

Promise 39

We will re-develop a range of other sites including Old Town Square, Cavendish Square, Sussex Square and Braydon Court.

Progress

Cavendish Square: it is anticipated that all of the housing will be completed by the end of November and tenants are being sought for the final phase of the commercial development.

Braydon Court: the building works have progressed on schedule and it is anticipated that phase one will be completed in October, with the new Post Office opening late October/early November.

Marlowe Avenue: the revised planning application has been submitted, and it is hoped to make a start on site by the end of this calendar year.

We are in discussion with partners about the scheme at Sussex Square and work is continuing with the developer of the Locarno site in Old Town to produce a scheme which is financially viable.

Promise 40

All 1500 homes completed in the first phase of the Southern Development Area will meet the Building Research Establishment’s eco-homes ‘very good’ standard.

Progress

Achieved.

Promise 41

Significant capital investment in highway maintenance will see us improve the condition of roads and footways and reduce the backlog of repairs. We will publish annually a rolling schedule of improvement.

Progress

There has been good progress in promoting and procuring the backlog maintenance works annual programme for 2009-10. We are on target to complete the annual programme to budget before the end of the current financial year.

We are likely to achieve approximately 10-12% reduction in sites from the Highway Maintenance Priority (Backlog) List over the duration of the promise 2006-10.

The publication of the rolling programme of completed and proposed sites on the SBC website is likely to be part of the current push to provide greater public awareness of the promise and the work of the Council to achieve this.

Promise 42

We will create opportunities for low cost home ownership by building an average of 300 affordable homes each year. Priority will be given to Swindon’s key workers and local residents and we will also encourage shared equity schemes.

Progress

364 further affordable homes are required by March 2010 to meet the average of 300 affordable homes per year. There are 524 affordable homes due for completion in the development schedule by this date. A significant proportion of these homes are on large sites such as Wichelstowe and can be subject to factors outside the Council's control in the current housing climate. However, the majority of these homes have started on-site and as such, would be expected to deliver by March 2010.

Delays in major projects continue to be an issue. The affordable housing which is contained on S106 sites can be difficult to drive forward in the current market should the overall site economics not work. Developers continue to challenge the Council's 30% target and preferred tenure split and this can threaten delivery if they are successful in this approach. Close working between Housing and Planning continues to ensure that the Council's position is defended. The Council is also active in the general housing market with registered social landlord partners looking at opportunities to purchase surplus stock on new developments for use as affordable housing subject to sustainability constraints and funding availability.

Promise 43

We will work with bus companies to increase the frequency and hours of operation. We will also work with parish councils to develop good rural transport links and increase overall the number of bus journeys by 13% by 2006 and a further 20% in the following five years.

Progress

During 2008-09 bus patronage grew to 14.09 million, an 8.6% increase on the previous year. The figure has exceeded the Local Transport Plan target for 2010-11 of 13.10 million passengers. Since 2004, growth has been 31.5% compared to the combined 33% set for the two periods of the promise statement. We are on track to meet the promise.

A programme to make bus stops more accessible has been put in place and a new bus map is being designed to encourage further access.

A Kickstart bid was submitted to Government in July to provide additional or new journeys in the rural areas of the Borough not served by conventional buses. Although a limited service its aim is to influence commuters and young people to change their travel habits.

Thamesdown Transport Service 12, a peak-time commuter service for North Swindon replaced the Groundwell Park and Ride mothballed in June.

Promise 44

We will complete the Swindon Urban Cycle Network and introduce secure parking facilities for cycles at key points.

Progress

This promise needs to be radically reassessed as part of the Council's Transport Strategy, which identified that the Council needed to review its approach to cycling and develop a revised strategy. Whilst unlikely to be completed in its current form, the promise has, nonetheless, been substantially achieved in line with user requirements.

The Swindon Cycle Network is extensive, although missing some key links. A number of projects have been identified with cycle groups to complete key strategic gaps in the network. Design work is underway on a secure bike parking facility at Brunel North Car Park. On this basis the promise cannot be completed as defined and is therefore 'Red', but work on a new strategy and on key projects will continue.