Swindon has once again proven its economic resilience and prosperity, securing fourth place in the latest Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index.
The Town has outstripped larger rivals such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham, and continues to outshine neighbouring Oxford and Reading in key indicators.
The Good Growth for Cities Index evaluates 51 of the UK’s largest cities, including all London boroughs, through 12 critical measures. These include jobs, health, income, safety, skills, and work-life balance, among others. Swindon has shown exceptional performance, coming in above average on seven of these indicators, notably in the areas of employment, income, health, and commuting times. However, the report indicated room for improvement, particularly in the number of new businesses being established within the Borough.
Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Councillor Jim Robbins, voiced his pride in the town’s remarkable achievements, likening Swindon’s progress to a smaller Premier League team consistently qualifying for the Champions League.
“I’m extremely proud that our town continues to punch above its weight in these economic performance tables against much larger cities. It’s a great advert for the Borough, and performing well in indicators like health, jobs, and crime shows people that Swindon is a fantastic place to live,” said Councillor Robbins.
He acknowledged, however, that more work lies ahead to fully realise Swindon’s potential. The council remains in discussions with landowners about ongoing improvements to the town centre, and has already unlocked 2,500 new homes in the New Eastern Villages. Additionally, the ambitious redevelopment plans for the former Honda site by Panattoni could have a transformative impact on the local economy in the years to come.
Ben Pykett, partner in PwC’s West of England Government and Health Industries team, praised Swindon’s consistent success, stating: “For a second year in a row, Swindon is among the five best-performing cities in our Good Growth for Cities Index. It performs strongly on health, transport, and safety, but the Index also highlights opportunities for improvement in areas such as work-life balance, new business formation, and housing.”
