Councillor Gary Sumner, the Conservative leader of Swindon Borough Council, revealed that negotiations over a proposed Thames Valley devolution arrangement were nearing a crucial stage.
Speaking at a Swindon Business Breakfast event at The Workshed on Thursday 22nd October, he said a meeting the previous day had brought the deal closer to becoming a reality. He said:
“We are on the cusp of achieving what we want, which is a Thames Valley devolution deal.
“We will know within days, probably, whether this is going to go ahead.”
The proposed arrangement could give Swindon access to funding opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to secure independently. One of the council’s priorities would be improving transport connections, including the heavily congested A420 between Swindon and Oxford.
Councillor Sumner said the road was restricting economic growth and highlighted the importance of reliable connections for major employers. He pointed to BMW MINI’s logistics operation, which involves approximately 46 lorry movements between Swindon and Oxford each day. He said:
“We don’t have the ability, just as a town sitting on our own, to get those sort of funds.
“But working through devolution, we can see road and rail infrastructure improve for the benefit of our town.”
The potential deal was discussed alongside wider plans to attract investment, create jobs and strengthen Swindon’s economy. Andrew Wells, Head of Inward Investment & Inclusive Economy for Swindon Borough Council, who has been involved in bringing major businesses to the town, said Swindon had established itself as an emerging centre for the defence industry.
He highlighted international defence company Stark, which he said had spent £10 million with local suppliers over the past 12 months. He said:
“These are new money, international money coming into Swindon, and we’re seeing the dividends from that.”
Mr Wells said Swindon’s success had attracted interest from eight other local authorities and a House of Lords scrutiny committee. He claimed the town’s approach to attracting investment had achieved results without additional government funding.
The event also heard how planning applications linked to major investments had been processed in as little as 48 hours. Describing the approach as “almost the wild west of planning in Swindon”, Mr Wells stressed that regulations continued to be followed. He said:
“We’ve been turning applications around in as short as 48 hours for some of the big investments.”
The council is targeting further growth in defence, advanced manufacturing and uncrewed systems, with companies including drone manufacturer Tekever expected to create employment opportunities. Councillor Sumner said Tekever was looking to employ hundreds of people locally, with the council working alongside colleges to develop relevant training.
He also wants schools to promote local career opportunities before pupils choose their GCSE subjects. He said:
“If you catch young people early enough, you can show them the opportunities that exist in their town.”
Investment in Swindon town centre was another focus of the breakfast event. Councillor Sumner defended the approximately £33 million Fleming Way redevelopment, arguing that public infrastructure improvements could encourage private investment.
He highlighted an almost £10 million refurbishment at Newbridge Square, which subsequently attracted Thames Water. Around 450 Thames Water jobs have moved into the town centre from Kembrey Park, bringing additional customers to nearby businesses.
Despite the positive outlook, Councillor Sumner acknowledged that businesses faced uncertainty ahead of the Government’s forthcoming Budget.
He said the council would continue focusing on encouraging investment and removing barriers to economic growth. He said:
“We can’t affect what Andy Burnham and John Healey are going to do, but what we can do is say that in Swindon we are open for business. We want growth. We have a plan.”
Economic growth is expected to feature prominently in the council’s forthcoming Borough Plan, alongside measures to address its financial pressures.
A decision on the Thames Valley devolution deal is now expected within days, although no agreement has yet been confirmed.
