Swindon

Swindon Borough Council commissioned CTConsults and HemingwayDesign to create a place brand for its Heritage Action Zone, bringing together the town's historic railway quarter under a shared identity that could drive regeneration, investment and public ownership.

Through extensive consultation with residents, businesses and stakeholders, we uncovered a story that went beyond railway engineering. The area's legacy of innovation, social progress and community wellbeing, from pioneering workers' housing to one of Britain's earliest public lending libraries, became the foundation of a new place narrative. Co-designed with local people, The Works celebrates a place built on ingenuity, social conscience, and making things happen.

The brand was translated into a distinctive visual identity inspired by the area's industrial heritage while looking firmly to the future. More than a communications tool, it provides a shared identity for heritage, culture and regeneration partners working across the town and a toolkit for forward planning.

Today, The Works continues to promote Swindon's historic railway quarter as a distinctive destination, supporting a wider regeneration programme that includes £18m of investment in heritage assets, public spaces and visitor infrastructure.