Even the most ardent Swindonians among us would admit there are some parts of the town which have seen better days.

And the worst of them seem to have been mouldering for years and even, in some cases, decades.

But there may be in some cases the earliest glimmerings of a possible revival, although bringing most of these buildings back into use would seem to be some way off.

Signal Point

(Image: Dave Cox)

The huge office block above the railway station is boarded up and has been so for several years. It is the property of Network Rail, which took back control of the building from the previous management company in 2020.

At the time Network Rail said it had plans for the building and hoped it would become an iconic landmark to the hundreds of thousands of people who enter Swindon by rail every year.

That has not come to pass. The windows are still boarded up and the building still looms over the station and that part of town.

Although it is understood new plans might not too far in the distance. Watch this space.

Debenhams

(Image: Dave Cox)

There are twin tracks for bringing the old Debenhams building on Fleming Way back into use.

The tower block of offices above the shop, known as Falcon House, is actually being converted into flats. Workers began the conversion of the top five stories into 65 apartments earlier this year.

The upper storeys of the building are now covered in a tarpaulin to protect passers-by below.

Many of the people who might be affected are workers digging up Fleming Way as part of the Bus Boulevard/Fleming Way Improvement plans.

And the long-running project may be why a possible re-use for the shop building has not been put into effect. Away Storage Ltd has been given planning permission to use the space as a self-storage facility. But with no access from Fleming Way, or from the Parade, it seems work will have to progress before that plan can be realised.

Tented Market

(Image: Dave Cox)

There were hopes just this year that the very forlorn, and graffiti-strewn tented market in the town centre, which has been closed for seven years, could be found a new use.

Business partners Callum Forbes and Mathew Gillard, who run the Railway Village Convenience Store were in talks with the owners Panther Securities Ltd, about taking it on as a space for pop-up shops and traders without a space of their own.

The latest comment from Mr Forbes is that discussions are continuing.

There has been some sign of life, with at least some early clearance work being done inside the building, with materials stacked up for either removal for disposal.

(Image: Dave Cox)

Swindon Bus Station

(Image: Dave Cox)

There are plans, of a sort, for Swindon Bus Station, which is by common consent looking very tired, but they, like others, depend on the completion of the work in Fleming Way.

When that programme is completed and the road is a major public transport hub and bus interchange, the bus station will no longer be used and will be levelled.

It will then be used as part of the regeneration area bounded by Carfax Street, Corporation Street and Manchester Road. The new use could be housing, business use or even a new entertainment venue.

Mechanics’ Institute

(Image: Aled Thomas)

As the railway Village around it gets a spruce up,  The Mechanics’, very sadly, remains in a poor and deteriorating condition behind hoardings.

But there is the faintest glimmer of hope.

After decades where the owner Forefront Estates did nothing with the building, necessitating some emergency work by Swindon Borough Council, the council and the company have begun discussions. Neither side will comment further. But it’s a small step forward.

Corn Exchange/ Locarno

(Image: Dave Cox)

Another of Swindon’s Victorian Heritage buildings slowly falling into disrepair and being in private hands means Swindon Borough Council has very little power to do anything about it.

But again, there seems to be some reason for hope.  The building was put up for sale by its owner Gael Mackenzie, and to sweeten the deal the borough council offered to sell any buyer two car parks at its foot.

That offer, it seems, has not been taken up by any purchaser, but allusions have been made in borough council cabinet meetings to ‘things having moved on’,

Nobody will say any more, unfortunately, but perhaps some reason to watch this space.