From repairing local roads to reshaping the town centre, Swindon Borough Council says 2026 will be a year focused on delivery, enforcement and long-term investment.
Among the headline priorities is a major programme of road repairs. In March, the Council is due to set out how it plans to spend up to £6 million in 2026/27 on highways maintenance. This follows a significant uplift in Government funding, with Swindon set to receive £30 million over the next four years — a 45 per cent increase on previous levels.
The Council has also signalled a tougher approach to fly-tipping, with a dedicated enforcement team stepping up action against waste crime. Officers will be gathering evidence to issue fixed penalties and pursue prosecutions, while retaining the power to seize and crush vehicles linked to serious offences.
In the town centre, January will mark a key moment for the Health Hydro. The main pool, new gym and upgraded changing facilities are set to reopen on Monday 19 January following the first phase of refurbishment works.
By the end of the month, demolition is expected to begin at the former bus station site. Work is underway on a design code for the wider Kimmerfields area, aimed at securing a developer for a high-quality regeneration scheme. Part of the site remains earmarked for a new regional entertainment venue, with funding options and long-term viability continuing to be explored.
Community engagement will also feature heavily in the early part of the year. In February, council-led events will take place in Penhill and Walcot East, giving residents the chance to shape how up to £20 million is spent in each area over the next decade. The funding forms part of the Government’s Pride in Place programme and builds on feedback gathered through recent Let’s Talk Swindon sessions.
Elsewhere, the year ahead will see progress on creating additional SEND school places, while a decision is also expected on a planning application for the proposed Wichelstowe Community Sports Hub.
The draft Swindon Local Plan is due to reach another milestone as it moves towards Regulation 19 consultation, ahead of examination by a Planning Inspector. The Plan sets out how Swindon will meet national housing targets, requiring the delivery of 1,205 new homes each year, totalling 24,100 homes by 2043. While much of this growth is planned within existing large developments, the document also identifies the need to allocate land for a further 7,000 homes.
Looking further ahead, the Council plans to publish a new investors prospectus and economic growth strategy in 2026, forming part of its Heart of Swindon vision to attract jobs and investment. A new strategy for maintaining and improving Swindon’s country parks is also due, following strong public engagement during a consultation held last year.
Council Leader Jim Robbins said the year ahead would be about turning plans into action.
“2026 will be an exciting year for Swindon,” he said. “We’re looking forward to progressing projects that will drive growth and continuing to talk to residents about what matters in their communities.
“From reopening the Health Hydro to fixing local roads and attracting new investment, change is underway. While financial pressures remain challenging, we won’t shy away from our responsibility to make Swindon a fairer, better and greener place to live. This is about investing in our communities, protecting what makes Swindon special and building a future where everyone can thrive.”
