Local News · Swindon
Plans approved to transform historic GWR Works building into eight new flats
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A former telephone exchange within the historic GWR Works in Swindon is set for residential conversion after a fourth planning attempt was successful.
A historic building within Swindon’s iconic GWR Works is set to be converted into eight new homes after a fourth planning application for the site was finally granted approval. The former telephone exchange, which sits near the railway line, the Bristol Street underpass and the offices of Historic England, will be repurposed into a mix of one-bedroom residential units.
The approved scheme, submitted by Ian Sullivan Architecture Ltd on behalf of LF Property Group Ltd, will see four flats situated on the ground floor and a further four on the first floor. The units are designed for one or two occupants, with floor areas ranging from 39.7 square metres to 57.7 square metres. The building's basement level will be utilised for a 16-space secure cycle store and additional storage for the landlord and maintenance teams.
The project follows three previous attempts to gain planning permission for the site, with approvals granted in 2022 and 2023 having expired before work could begin. This latest successful bid faced scrutiny during the planning process, particularly regarding the lack of on-site car parking. Both the council's highways department and the Central Swindon North Parish Council lodged objections, expressing concerns that the lack of parking would place increased pressure on surrounding streets and complicate servicing arrangements.
However, planning officers ultimately recommended the scheme for approval. Their report concluded that the building's central location near the railway station and existing public transport links meant that future occupiers would be less reliant on private vehicles. The planning report also noted that the site is situated within a zone where residential developments are exempt from mandatory parking requirements.
Conservation officers raised no objections to the plans, and Historic England indicated its support following revisions to the proposed window replacements. The council noted that the work would preserve and enhance the area's character while securing the future of the building, which is recognised as a non-designated heritage asset.
As part of the approval, the developer must ensure that work commences within the next three years. Mandatory conditions for the project include the permanent retention of the cycle and bin stores, as well as a requirement that the pedestrian route linking the railway subway to Fire Fly Avenue must remain clear and unobstructed throughout the construction period and beyond. During the consultation phase, the proposal received one public comment, which expressed support for the inclusion of swift bricks to assist with nesting birds in the area.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Lifestyle · View original