Plans to turn a former police station near Swindon into flats and a commercial space are one step closer to completion, after almost three years of work.

The former Cricklade Police Station, on the High Street, was sold on by Wiltshire Constabulary in November 2021 and quickly snapped up by Cricklade Development Foundation (CDF), who pledged to turn it into a development for the town.

The society was formed in 2018 to help secure the future of the town’s high street, and CDF proposed to turn the former police station into a part-residential and part-commercial property.

The plans included transforming the upstairs into two small flats and the ground floor into a space for commercial use with a garden and event area that would benefit Cricklade.

Funds to carry out this project were raised by the community and groups including CDF, Waylands Estates Charity, Crapper and Sons, and Hills Group.

Now, almost three years on from when the property was bought, CDF has unveiled its new community toilets.

Ed Dodd, Deputy Chief Executive of Hills Group presented a plaque for the new site to Terri Robertson, Secretary of CDF.Ed Dodd, Deputy Chief Executive of Hills Group presented a plaque for the new site to Terri Robertson, Secretary of CDF. (Image: Mary Hardwidge)

The shiny new facilities which will be open to the public have been built in a dilapidated storage area rumoured to be old police cells.

“We are incredibly thankful to all our funders, contractors, and volunteers," said CDF Chair Ruth Szybiak.

"Special thanks to Hills Group and Crapper and Sons for their significant grants.

"These new community toilets, and the proposed garden, will benefit both the community and our High Street for years to come.”

The new fully accessible toilets mark the start of a space created by the community and for the community.The new fully accessible toilets mark the start of a space created by the community and for the community. (Image: Mary Hardwidge)

The landfill money was made available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), administered for Hills and Crappers by Community First, the Rural Community Council for Wiltshire.

At the opening ceremony for the new toilets, Ed Dodd, Deputy Chief Executive of Hills Group presented a plaque for the new development to Terri Robertson, Secretary of CDF.

According to CDF, the proposed community garden and event area is expected to be completed in 2025, pending further funding.

The two upstairs flats have already been let to local tenants, and the ground floor which will hold up to four commercial units will be "ready soon."