Walcot is set to receive a £20 million boost as part of the government’s Pride in Place programme, with local residents given the power to shape how the funding is used over the next decade.
The initiative, announced today, will see Walcot benefit from £2 million a year for the next ten years. What sets it apart is the way the money will be directed – not from offices in Whitehall, but by people in the community who know the area best.
A new Neighbourhood Board, made up of local residents, will be established to oversee the investment. From restoring parks and breathing new life into community halls to revitalising high streets and tackling empty buildings, it will be the people of Walcot who decide where the cash goes.
Cllr Emma Bushell, Swindon Labour Group’s Deputy Leader and councillor for Walcot, welcomed the announcement and urged residents to get involved:
“An extra £20 million for Walcot – directed by the people of Walcot. That’s the Labour difference. No one in Westminster knows this community better than those who live and work here. That’s why this funding matters so much.
“It’s not just £2 million a year for a decade – it’s £2 million a year spent on our priorities. Whether that’s youth services, community hubs or local parks, it’s going to be led by us. I want residents to step forward with ideas or even join the Neighbourhood Board so that together, we can decide the future of our area.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the programme is about returning pride and power to communities across the country:
“For too long people have seen boarded-up shops and run-down parks, powerless to stop the decline. That ends now. This is about investing in Britain’s future by putting decisions in the hands of local people who know their neighbourhoods best.”
Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander also called on residents to make the most of the opportunity:
“This is our chance to improve our area and make it an even better place to live. Local people will be making the big decisions – not others speaking for us. With £2 million every year for ten years, the potential is huge. The only limit is our imagination.”
Walcot is one of two areas in Swindon to benefit, with Penhill also set to receive the same level of support. Together, the £40 million investment represents one of the most significant regeneration opportunities for the town in a generation.
Across the country, 169 communities will each receive £2 million annually under the Pride in Place programme, while a further 95 areas will receive funding for immediate improvements to parks, green spaces and high streets.
For Walcot, the real challenge begins now – coming together as a community to decide how best to use the money for the benefit of current and future generations.
