It has been a James Bond villain's lair, a car manufacturer and a soft play area, but what should the Spectrum building be now?
The future of the building is being deliberated after plans were submitted to Swindon Borough Council to prepare it for future tenants.
Knight Frank submitted the plans on behalf of AEW UK Investment Management LLP to partially demolish the interior of the 260,000 sq ft Grade II* Spectrum Building on Mead Way.
If approved, non-original internal structures would be demolished, a walkway replace and the soft play area fabric building fabric removed to revert it to how it was before 2010, after Renault left the site.
A Knight Frank spokesperson said: “[AEW] wish to reverse building works specifically relating to the previous children’s soft-play facility, alongside a number of other measures to increase the attractiveness of the site to the widest possible range of potential commercial tenants.”
But who should the future tenants be?
Many of you suggested a leisure site, with a skate park, go-karting track and music venue all being common suggestions.
As well as plenty of tongue-in-cheek suggestions, there were suggestions of practical shops not in Swindon. Here are some of your ideas.
Dale May: “Not sure how familiar people are with Boxpark, but this place would make for a cracking “something akin to Boxpark”. Loads of little food counters/kitchens, cocktail bars, beer and cider bars, stalls selling homemade food to take home.
Granted it’d be a massive venue, but you could also add a concert venue to that as well, or nightclub, (or both).
Already imagining the Chemical Brothers with a crazy light show in there.”
Michael Salmon: “How about using part of it for a permanent indoor market. One thing most people around here miss.”
Josh Giles: “A bookies and a couple charity shops should do it.”
Sonia Dykes: “Well this town needs family things to do! Skate rolling rink, expand the golfing hole, Concert venue, I'm sure it’s plenty big enough to put a few different things in there and even better all under cover.”
Martin Campbell: “Costco, IKEA or other store that’s not already in Swindon. No more coffee shops or fast food outlets please.”
Rog Clinton-Herman: “It has the right colour scheme and architecture to be a great IKEA building. Not that I would use it. But it would look nice.”
Denny Brady: “Roof would make a great BMX track.”
Wayland Smith: “I'd like to see it flattened. We have too many grey metal sheds already.”
Megan Twisk: “Turn it back into logistics and jobs that come with it.”
Lyn Jeapes: “Demolish and build homes, better than using greenfield sites.”
Leigh Wiles: “Revamped music venue, indoor airsoft park, archery range, bring back kids about and golfing hole. Make it a family activity centre for locals and tourists alike.”
Darren Kenny: “I personally would like to see the home of basketball in there, Swindon shocks could be the central venue for basketball.”
Malcolm Adams: “If there is a big enough car park and bus stops nearby. Then a market.”
Dominic Jiménez: “I would love it to be uk Largest indoor go karting venue. On two or maybe three levels.”
David Hart: “Demolish it and build something that is fit for whatever purpose is required, no landlord can afford to keep these listed buildings. Oasis is having the same problems. Both will probably end up empty and derelict.”
Christine Rogers: “Indoor athletics centre.”
Clive Rainbow: “indoor farmers market with true local craft stalls.”
Gaetano Giglio: “Ikea, Costco or Decathlon.”
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