Swindon Council is to continue with its ambitious plans to develop a new art gallery and museum in the town centre despite failing to secure the majority of the £15m needed from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The HLF said Swindon’s collection of 20th century British modern art and ceramics was of ‘outstanding heritage importance’, and there was a ‘strong case’ to improve its housing and display. 
But it said there were many competing bids this year and ultimately it did not have enough money to support them all. The council-led bid – which is backed by the town’s business community – was for £12.5m.
One deciding factor appears to have been that the bid did not include an alternative use for the collection’s current home in Bath Road, Old Town, pictured – although the council claims it was told it did not have to take the future of the historic listed building into account to gain the HLF money.
Overall, half of the bids considered by the HLF in this round were not successful – and those that were tended to be seeking funding to redevelop existing buildings. The Swindon Council-led plans include a new showpiece building on the car park next to the Wyvern Theatre, as the first step to creating a new cultural quarter for the town.
The HLF has advised the council to focus on the long-term business case for a new museum and art gallery.
Swindon Council leader Cllr David Renard said: “We always knew it was unlikely we would be successful in the first round, as many large projects don’t succeed at the initial stage. The positive thing is that we’ve come a long, long way and done as much in 12 months as many projects achieve over several years.
“We will now work with the HLF to explore how we may strengthen our case further. They agree with us that the collection is outstanding and deserves a better home. I am not in any way discouraged by their decision because we can build on the hard work we’ve already done.”
Swindon’s renowned collection of 20th century British art is acknowledged as one of the best in the UK outside of private hands – yet the museum and art gallery in Old Town has space to display just a tenth of the works at any one time.
The planned art gallery and museum has the backing of Influence, the town’s leading business organisation, and Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). It is also supported by Robert Hiscox, honorary president of insurance giant Hiscox and a substantial art collector, who is helping find sponsors and supporters from the art world.
LEP director Isobel Brown said: “We will continue to support Swindon’s bid for Heritage Lottery Fund backing towards a new museum and art gallery for the town. This project represents an important part of Swindon’s cultural regeneration, and one that will draw visitors and investors.”
Swindon Borough Council has made successful bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund in the past, including £8.4m for the establishment of the STEAM museum, and £3m for the restoration of Lydiard Park.
The HFL distributed £98m to nine projects including £ 12.1m to Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, home to the Lovell Telescope. London’s Science Museum will receive £8m for a major redevelopment of its medicine galleries, Derby Silk Mill, formerly the Derby Industrial Museum, gets £9.4m and £10m will go to creating a new heritage railway museum in Leicester.
