19/08/05 - New Shops Planned For Priory Vale

New Shops Planned For Priory Vale

Peopleliving on one of Swindon's newest housing estates will soon have amenities on their door-step.

Builders will move onto the Priory Vale site in January to construct a village centre.

The centre which will include a convenience store and four other shops is set to open in autumn 2006.

Developer Crest Nicholson is already in advanced stages of talks with a convenience store operator. The name of the store is expected to be announced soon.

Chris Cain, development manager for Crest Nichol-son said: "The convenience store will provide groceries and other services and will be the largest of the shops.

"We have also commenced marketing the four other shop units and have had a lot of interest from potential occupiers at the moment we do not know the precise mix but we have had interest for a variety of uses.

"These will be local shops and it is important to get the mix right to provide services for local people."

Designers have also started drawing up plans for the second phase of the village centre project.

Elements in this phase may include a pub, medical centre and a church.

Building work is likely to start in 2006 after the plans are finalised and approved by Swindon Council.

Councillor Justin Tomlinson (Con, Abbey Meads) said local amenities are essential to build community spirit. "I would welcome a local pub because they are focal points of communities," said Coun Tomlinson.

"We've seen the results in Taw Hill since the Tawny Owl opened."

He added that a GP surgery similar to the modern Taw Hill Medical Practice would reap benefits for the community.

"We will be working in harmony with the developers to ensure local residents get the amenities they want," said Councillor Tomlinson.

As we reported earlier this month, work is already underway on a new learning campus in Priory Vale. The campus will feature a new primary school and secondary school. Two special schools Brimble Hill and Uplands will also be moved to the site, which will feature a host of additional community facilities.

It has been funded through a Private Finance Initiative between Swindon Council and the developers Equion who will manage the project while Laing O'Rourke construct it.

The primary school should be built by 2006 and the secondary school by 2007.