A YOUNG Swindon property developer will this week begin restoring a massive Old Town villa.

What motivates 23-year-old Arthur Dallimer is not just the hope of securing his own financial future. He wants to make sure his disabled older brother is provided for too.

The Chiseldon man has bought the former Sunnymede residential home on Croft Road. Derelict for a decade, the red brick house will be restored as a six bedroom family home in plans shown to residents this week.

Arthur started developing property when he was just 18, buying his first house with personal and family funds.

He said of his goal as a developer: “One is to gain financial wealth and independence and not rely on government for pensions. When we’re of age they’re not going to be around. I’d quite like to secure my future.

“I also have an autistic brother, Adam. My parents have a finite amount of cash until they pass away. Then I need to take that responsibility on, which is very expensive.”

Arthur’s brother, Adam, is 18 months older and still lives at home with his parents. The developer added in a presentation to residents: “One of the most important motivations for me is to make enough money to have him live with me.”

He’s already completed property renovations in Royal Wootton Bassett and Chiseldon, but Croft Road is the biggest project of Arthur’s career.

He bought it in April, initially thinking of turning it into six flats. He then put it up for auction, fearing that the project would not be viable. The former care home failed to sell.

Now, he plans to restore it as a family home. A bid to formally change the building’s use from care home to residential will be lodged with borough planners this week.

Arthur hopes the building will be ready to sell on the market by September. At an event showing residents his plans this week, he said he planned to knock down a modern extension at the back of the 100-year-old house, replace the windows, install Victorian fire places and restore the old rooms.

The building was aimed at wealthy families, he said.

Developers have twice tried to turn 25 Croft Road into flats. The most recent attempt was blocked by the borough’s planning committee in late 2016 over concerns about parking.

Arthur said: “I’m a local boy and I’ve always driven past this place. I love the house and I love the future of it. I want to see it turned into a beautiful family home. Either one that other families enjoy or one that I enjoy.

“I’m not a cowboy builder, I always develop family homes. That’s what I predominantly do, rather than cut them up.”

Residents and councillors welcomed the opportunity to comment on the plans so early in the development process.

Sarah Walters, 51, of Croft Road, said: “I think it’s a really good plan. It’s really going to lift the area. It’s been empty for 10 years and it sound like he’s going to do it sympathetically.”

Nick Burns-Howell, an Old Town parish councillor, said: “It’s wonderful. We have an opportunity to look around and hopefully influence the design from a resident’s point of view. We all want to see beautiful homes like these restored to their former glory.”

Borough councillor Jane Milner-Barry added: “This house has been standing empty for too long and it would be lovely to see it transformed back into a family home.”