One of the most eye-catching development schemes in Swindon is a plan to transform Apsley House in Old Town into offices and a shopping space, and restaurant.

One of central Swindon’s oldest buildings, the Grade II-listed Regency villa, last used as the town’s museum and art gallery until it was closed at the start of the 2020 lockdowns, could be used to turn the junction of Victoria Road and Bath Road into a vibrant new hub in Old Town.

Not least among the eye-catching details is the age of the developer behind the scheme, Arthur Dallimer who runs William Arthur Property.

He has just turned 29 and has been active in property development since the ripe old age of 18.

And having grown up in Swindon, left, and now returning, he says his roots in the town fuel a passion for improving the place.

Arthur said: ”I’m Swindon born and bred. I'm now moving back to Swindon after living in Bristol for eight years - I want to live somewhere I'm proud of, somewhere vibrant, somewhere with lots of different activities. The truth is I love Swindon.”

And it was his experience of looking for somewhere to meet in the town which led him to hit on the conversion scheme for Apsley House instead of the conversion to flats which might have been expected: “I can identify commercial gaps within Swindon because I work and have lived in Swindon.

“I remember distinctly when I needed to organise a business lunch on a Monday in Old Town and I couldn't find one appropriate location.

“Often I'd arrive in Swindon at 8am and there wasn't anywhere to have a drink of coffee; there were gaps in provision that I didn’t see in Bristol where I lived.”

And he says the people who might live in the new houses and flats being built, especially in the town centre, need facilities to work, and play: “There is a considerable amount of residential property being converted from office buildings, new housing development and more flats in the town but there is little development of services and local amenities to go alongside. In my view there has to be both.

 “Personally, I enjoy working with businesses and letting commercial space. Apsley House creates that missing venue for me and I hope to be able to split it into multiple commercial units for businesses.

“For me going down the route of having a multiple unit commercial destination in Old Town is ideal and the direction I want to take in my business.”

And if planning permission is granted on the scheme, with the application lodged in November, then it might be less than a year before the transformation of the site, including the slightly run-down parade of shops at the top of Victoria Road.

But, Arthur said, planning is key: “Currently we're waiting on getting planning permission for the scheme. However, once it’s granted, I aim to mobilise on the site as soon as possible.

“Realistically we've got a six-to-eight month construction phase to complete the improvement works to the building.

“Unfortunately, I can't commit to a timeframe as planning has taken six months so far – and that’s out of my hands.”

Having started with his first property at 18, and now able to redevelop a site and keep ownership, Arthur is keen to do more for the town: “My company has other re-development sites within the town, which we're hoping to get implemented in the next few years.

“I hope with some of the work I'm looking to create and do, this will attract further development and larger investment funds coming to the town. I hope to be part of a number of people and organisations which will help grow Swindon into a place we all enjoy.”