Five Swindon planning applications which could come in 2024

Whether it's changes to the town centre, new houses on the outskirts of the town, or renovation of some of Swindon's historic buildings, Swindon council is always busy dealing with the countless applications for planning permission it receives every year.

Permission from the local authority is needed when a building or landowner wants to build something new, make a major change to their building, or change its use.

2024 is set to be just as busy for planners at Swindon Borough Council, with several major applications either already in the pipeline, or soon to be submitted.

The Oasis

This will almost certainly be the most eagerly awaited application lodged with the council in 2024, both by those who might support it, and those who will oppose it.

Both Swindon Borough Council bosses and the de facto owners of the building, Seven Capital, say they want the new Oasis to open in 2026 - the 50th anniversary of its first opening.

And with the council and Seven Capital now agreeing a way forward, and detailed plan must surely be made next year in order to allow the work needed to allow that opening date.

We know the plan will include the pool area and the famous dome, which are listed. But further details are as yet unknown; it might include a new covering for the dome, but not the sports hall and music venue which gave the Gallagher brothers the idea for the name of their band.

Apsley House

An application has already been put into the council’s planners for the ambitious regeneration of both the Grade II-listed Regency Villa at the corner of Bath Road and Victoria Road, and the small parade of shops that wraps around the corner.

Anthony Dallimer is seeking permission to create a 90-seat restaurant on the corner of Bath Road and Victoria Road, along with two new retail units on the ground floor and a co-working/meeting space for businesses on the first floor.

If approved, work to upgrade retail units at the top of Victoria Road, which forms part of Apsley House, would also be carried out.

The building has been closed since March 2020.

The Corn Exchange

The Grade II-listed Corn Exchange is also known as the Locarno, after its stint as a dance hall, and the Old Town Hall, as that was its original use when built in 1854.

It has been shuttered, boarded up, empty and slowly degenerating since the late 1970s, and was added to the Victorian Society’s ‘most at risk’ list in 2019.

Since then, the owner Gael Mackenzie and Swindon Borough Council joined forces to put the building on the market with the council-owned car parks at Dammas Lane and The Planks.

It is understood that Mr Mackenzie has received an acceptable offer for the building, and whilst negotiations are ongoing, a planning application next year is possible, but may be optimistic.

300 homes at Foxbridge South village

David Wilson Homes has recently been given outline permission to build 320 homes in the southern part of the Foxbridge New Eastern Village.

The company told members of the borough council’s planning committee that it wants to be on-site to begin construction by 2025.

The time frame means a new application setting out the layout of the estates, and the design of the houses and open spaces will have to be lodged in the next 12 months.

One thing we do know, much to the chagrin of Wanborough ward councillor Gary Sumner, is that the plans will not include a primary school.

1,500 homes near Blunsdon

Another outline permission recently granted is for a huge new development of 1,552 houses to be built on a huge swathe of green land between Blunsdon and the A419 at Kingsdown, including a new road bridge over the dual carriageway joining the development to Groundwell in north Swindon.

The documents in the successful application indicate how the whole thing will be laid out.

But specifics of roads and other infrastructure, the design of houses as well as community facilities will have to be included in a new application, probably to be submitted in the next year.