Council Leader Jim Robbins wrote in the Adver on Saturday:
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This has been another great week for Swindon, one that began in the heart of government and continued with major national recognition, exciting events across the town, and an important step forward for Swindon’s long‑term future.
The week started with a visit to 10 Downing Street, where I attended the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan reception, along with Sam Starling, our Council Head of AI. The event brought together leading innovators, policymakers and practitioners working at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence. It was a proud moment to see Swindon recognised as one of the local authorities delivering meaningful progress on AI, and great to be able to present the Prime Minister with a #SwindonMakeItHere badge.
This momentum continued on Thursday as we welcomed Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, to Swindon. The visit highlighted the enormous potential of Swindon Knowledge Central, one of the UK’s largest brownfield regeneration schemes, unlocking thousands of new homes and more than 5,000 new jobs. We also showcased Swindon’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and defence-tech, including over 1,000 skilled jobs in UAV and defence innovation — a sector in which Swindon is rapidly emerging as a national leader. It was good to listen to Lord Vallance outline his work on the Ox-Cam arc and how Swindon can play a key role alongside our partners in the Thames valley.
Meanwhile, the town has been buzzing with activity as the Festival of Tomorrow 2026 continues. This year’s festival is the most ambitious yet — nearly two weeks long, with over 150 events and activities across Swindon. Highlights include today’s finale event at the Deanery, as well as rare behind‑the‑scenes access to the Hawking Building at Wroughton’s Science and Innovation Park. The festival cements Swindon’s reputation as a national hub for science, creativity and innovation.
We also held the first Let’s Talk Penhill event as we look to work with residents to understand how they want to see the £20m Pride in Place funding invested in Penhill. We’ll be holding another event next week for the Walcot £20m funding,
Adding to this week’s good news, Swindon Borough Council has been nominated for five categories at the 2026 LGC Awards — an exceptional achievement in a year that saw more than 1,000 entries nationwide. It is amazing to see teams from across the Council being recognised for their hard work, and the success that they are delivering.
Finally, I was delighted to table a motion to next week’s Full Council setting out a proposal to explore a Swindon Municipal Wealth Fund — a professionally governed, ring‑fenced structure designed to ensure our public assets deliver long‑term value for residents. The motion highlights how future Wichelstowe housing receipts could seed the fund with up to £50m, allowing Swindon to reinvest the value it creates back into communities, infrastructure and regeneration.
From Downing Street to the heart of our town, this has been a week that demonstrates Swindon’s growing ambition, confidence and recognition. The future is being built here — and we’re ready for it.