Swindon: Transport, green space, schools, and canals in the draft Local Plan
A first consultation is open until 13 October
Here is what the Swindon Local Plan has to say about public amenities.
Schools: If thousands of new houses are going to be built, then it follows that more schools will be needed for the children who live in them.
The draft Local Plan says that there should be at least one new secondary and two primaries to serve the New Eastern Villages, the Kingsdown allocation should include a new primary school and a new three-form-entry primary will also be needed in Wichelstowe.
Transport: As Swindon grows, the draft Local Plan says it will promote “sustainable modes of transport” to make it easier and quicker to get to the town centre by bus, bike or on foot.
The plan wants to improve connectivity with Oxford, Wiltshire and the Cotswolds.
It proposes looking at an ‘orbital bus route’ for easier access to Great Western Hospital and also wants to see “improvements to East-West connectivity in particular between two of the borough’s key strategic sites the New Eastern Villages and Wichelstowe.
It proposes “Mobility Hubs” at Orbital Shopping Park, Great Western Hospital or M4 Junction 15, Old Town and Swindon West at M4 Junction 16. Hubs will see bus lane infrastructure, bus gates and traffic signal prioritisation, as well as electric vehicle charging and infrastructure appropriate for the site.
Heritage Transport: The existing and “aspirational” route of canals: “shall be safeguarded to maintain the possibility of the long-term re-establishment of the Wilts & Berks Canal and North Wilts Canal as navigable waterways.”
“A deviation route for the Swindon and Cricklade Heritage Railway will be safeguarded from its present terminus at Taw Hill Halt south to a new terminus in the Mouldon Hill Country Park.
Open Green Space: The draft plan does not specify where parks and gardens should be placed, but it does say: “Major developments must incorporate appropriate, multifunctional green infrastructure.
“Proposals should integrate green infrastructure, including nature-rich landscape treatment into the design of new development.
“Any features should be tailored to the specific context of the site and retain and incorporate existing green infrastructure where practical, particularly mature/valuable trees hedgerows and water features.”
Non-coalescence: Swindon borough covers not just the town of Swindon itself but several other towns and villages – most notably Highworth, Wanborough and Wroughton.
The draft Local Plan incorporates areas of “non-coalescence” designed to ensure the smaller areas don’t merge with the main urban centre in one sprawl.
It says: “Areas of non-coalescence will be maintained to retain a rural and open character of the land, and protect the separate identity of settlements.
“Small-scale proposals for development in this area will only be permitted where they retain and enhance the countryside character and avoid any loss of landscape quality and retain the openness and character of the land, and protect the setting and separate identity of its settlements.”