Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has hailed an “historic” job-creating £129m boost to the economy of Swindon and Wiltshire.
The Government-funded Growth Deal, which was previously announced in July, will help create up to 1,500 jobs, allow up to 2,000 homes to be built by 2021 and generate up to £70m in public and private investment. 
Mr Clegg was in Swindon yesterday to finalise the deal, signing the document with Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chair Barry Dennington at Wichelstowe – and area of the town that will receive funding under the scheme for badly-needed transport improvements.
Pictured: LEP chair Barry Dennington, right, with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg after signing the Growth Deal
The money will be paid to the LEP and used for a number of schemes, including road schemes around Swindon’s planned Eastern Villages housing development, which will extend the town east of the A419 near Wanborough, as well as a £23m road tunnel under the M4 to link Wichelstowe to the road network around Junction 16.
However, the vast bulk of the funding – some £116.3m – will not be invested in the area until at least 2017 under the Growth Fund. The first payment of £12.8m will be used to create jobs, generate economic growth and accelerate much-needed housebuilding over the next two years.
Mr Clegg said: “I’m delighted to be finalising this historic deal bringing real change to Swindon and Wiltshire.
“This significant growth deal will enable a whole host of jobs to be created, see scores of homes built and transport improved. All of this is a major boost to the economy in the South West.
“Growth Deals are about local areas leading their own growth, giving more power to people in the regions so we work together to build a strong economy and a fairer society.”
