The Corn Exchange: a new centre for Old Town
Corn Exchange heritage redevelopment project
Old Swindon’s most iconic building is expected to be the heartbeat of Old Town once again. The Corn Exchange, perhaps better known to many Swindon people as the Locarno, will form the focus of a heritage led regeneration. Forward Swindon, the town’s economic development company assembled a multi-disciplinary team to establish a viable regeneration solution.
The working group led by Forward Swindon arrived at a Planning Brief which, following a period of public consultation, was approved by the Planning Committee during 2013. This offers a vision for the site; guidance to any development applications; and demonstrates a viable scheme which may include a hotel, high quality restaurants, residential and possibly other leisure facilities.
The next stage will be the appointment of commercial property agents who over the months ahead will look to complete the lettings of the restaurants and hotel using the embryonic designs within their marketing literature. A detailed planning application which reflects the Planning Brief will follow this stage, once interest in the scheme from potential occupiers has been established.
Project Summary
The Planning Brief can be viewed online at http://www.swindon.gov.uk/ep/ep-planning/forwardplaning/ep-planning-localdev/Documents/OLD TOWN HALL_CORN EXCHANGE Supplementary PLANNING BRIEF.pdf
The working group includes Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios, architects for the National Trust’s award winning Heelis HQ building in Swindon, Illman Young Landscapes, and Oxford City heritage team and English Heritage have all collaborated with Forward Swindon development specialists and Swindon’s senior planning officers.
The Corn Exchange was destroyed by two major fires in 2003 and 2004, and working towards a viable scheme for these listed buildings has proved to be a difficult task over recent years. A new and fresh approach with a multi-disciplinary team is bringing new optimism that there will be a future for the Corn Exchange that befits its past importance.