THE Carriage Works redevelopment is set to get a £4 million cash boost from the government.

The Grade-II listed building near the Swindon railway station is getting a share of the £900m Getting Building Fund to pay for the second phase of its transformation.

The first phase began in 2018 with the opening of the WorkShed office space for small businesses as part of the borough council’s commitment to finding sustainable uses for its heritage sites.

The second will involve the completion of the Royal Agricultural University's new training hub.

It is supported by the Heritage Action Zone, which is bringing expertise from Historic England to deliver improvements throughout the Railway Village.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland welcomed the cash injection. He said: “As we kickstart the economy and begin to recover from coronavirus, never has the Conservatives’ agenda to level up the whole country been so important.

“That’s why I am delighted South Swindon will directly benefit from this government money, helping to build the infrastructure our community needs while supporting jobs over the months and years ahead.

“The Great Western Works were at the heart of Victorian innovation here in Swindon, so to be able to use these great buildings as a base for Swindon’s up and coming firms is something I’m sure Brunel himself would have approved of.

“Through important funds such as this, we can build our way back to health – with our communities stronger, more united and more connected than ever before.”

Last year, the Royal Agricultural University began work on a new postgraduate and professional training hub which aims to increase the number of trained professionals within the cultural heritage industries.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, work has continued over the past few months and, if all goes to plan, the Cultural Heritage Institute will be open in September

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick said: “As we get Britain building we are also laying the foundations for a green economic recovery by investing in vital infrastructure for local communities, creating jobs and building environmentally-friendly homes with a huge £1.3 billion investment announced today.

“This government is determined to level up all parts of the country and this funding will give a much-needed boost to our economic recovery.”