Empty for years, the Great Western Railways Carriage Works running along London Street in Swindon’s historic heart has been re-imagined in the last five years as a space for creative industries and universities.

But those changes have largely taken place behind the building’s somewhat uninviting Victorian frontage.

Until now.

The long stone-built façade is getting a facelift with Swindon Borough Council spending nearly £175,000 on sprucing up the stonework and reglazing the scores of windows along the whole of the building.

Two new business spaces will also be created on the ground floor in the part of the works used towards the end of its life as railway works as the bike sheds for the workers.

They should be available to rent in 2023.

Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture and heritage

Councillor Matty Courtliff said: “Up to now, the impressive restoration of the Carriage Works has been taking place outside of the public’s gaze, but this latest phase will be very visible and bring this part of the building back into everyday use.

“We are really excited to see what imaginative future businesses come forward to occupy the new units as we continue our programme of bringing our heritage buildings back into use for future generations to enjoy.

“The new units will also complement the forthcoming improvements to Station Road and the Sheppard Street underpass as we look to create a more welcoming environment for pedestrians to increase footfall between the railway station and the Heritage Action Zone.”

Rebecca Barrett, Historic England Regional Director said: “We’re delighted to be playing a part in the transformation of the Carriage Works, one of several regeneration projects in the Swindon Heritage Action Zone.

“It’s exciting to see this historic building brimming with activity once again – home to new businesses and education facilities. The repair of the building’s impressive façade onto London Street is a real milestone.”

The 1876-built building now hosts The Work Shed – offices used by creative and digital start-up and expanding businesses - and it is also the home to the Royal Agricultural University’s new Cultural Heritage Institute.

An additional £4m from the government’s Getting Building Fund secured through Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership is being spent on refurbishing two of the units for the University of Bath’s  Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies and digital media facility that will be used by Create Studios.