The multi-million pound Carriage Works restoration in Swindon town centre is now in its third stage.

Carriage Works is being transformed into a business and educational campus for digital, tech and creative industries.

The project has been funded by the government’s Town’s fund and work first began in 2016.

Several units have already been brought back into use and welcomed new businesses, including the Open Studios art exhibition last month.

The Workshed opened in 2018 and features office space and acts as a business incubator for entrepreneurs, pioneers and creatives.

The Cultural Heritage Institute, run by the Royal Agricultural University, opened in 2020, and was soon followed by an Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST) unit, which was operated by the University of Bath.

Read More: Next phase of Carriage Works restoration will cost millions of pounds

Additionally, a film-making space for Create Studios opened last year.

Work on the next phase of the development is due to take place in early 2025 and last approximately 12 months.

Between £2 million and £3 million has been set aside by Swindon Borough Council to fund the next phase of the restoration.

Some of the work will include the stripping out and refurbishment of the Station Industrial Estate buildings and the buildings running alongside London Street.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, said: “This is a real success story and shows that heritage buildings can be transformed into modern premises for the businesses of today.

“The Carriage Works already had a great history but now, along with the units already occupied, it has its future secured as well.”

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