FORWARD Swindon is making progress with its plans to redevelop two key properties in the town centre.

Planning permission for work to be carried out on 1 and 3 Faringdon Road was granted last month, and the council-owned development body this week concluded a tendering processing to identify local contractors interested in delivering the project.

The redevelopment will convert the two buildings, which have fallen into disrepair in recent years, into eight new apartments with ground floor retail space - the plans set out that the end result should be affordable and accessible for small start-up businesses.

In conjunction with this development, there are also plans to improve the state of the surrounding street and neighbouring shop fronts.

The buildings, which sit on two prominent corners of Faringdon Road, have been targeted by Forward Swindon because of their prominent location on a key route through the town centre adjacent to the railway village.

Paul Chamberlain, Director of New Development Partnerships at Forward Swindon, explained: “This is a small but catalytic project that will kick-start wider regeneration, in conjunction with the other developments we’ve set out in our town centre delivery plan.”

Forward Swindon published its vision for delivering on the long-awaited regeneration of the town centre last month.

The plan describes a “vicious cycle” of low values and poor investor perceptions holding back regeneration opportunities.

Forward Swindon says it hopes to reverse this through "a series of strategic development projects at various locations across the area."

The team overseeing the new vision for the town centre also recently announced its plans for the Carriage Works on London Road, envisioning a new future for the former industrial building as a hub of tech and start up businesses in close proximity to the train station.

Two 'open door' events have been held, the most recent for Switch On To Swindon ambassadors, in an attempt to increase awareness of the buildings' potential as a business destination.

Paul Chamberlain added: “We were delighted by the positive reaction to our plans and are now dealing with a number of queries from businesses wanting to rent new office space when the first phase of development is completed later this year.”

A procurement process to secure an operator for the first phase of development is due to start by the end of this month. Initial strip out and site preparations have started and the main contractor will be on site within weeks.