Plans to restore the historic Queen’s Park hothouse have been labelled a renaissance for the town centre parks.

Ambitious plans for a community hub with a restored cafe have been welcomed by South Swindon Parish Councillors

The area around the building was ruled unsafe and closed to the public last year after concrete cladding started to fall off.

But now the council has revealed plans to bring it back to life. 

A delighted Coun Stan Pajak said at a full council meeting: “I joined the Queens Park Community Council in the 1980s and the dream always was to bring back the hothouse and this is it. 

“This is the renaissance of the parks in the town centre, it’s the rebirth and this is what this is all about.

“I think this will get a lot of support from a lot of people across Swindon because these parks aren’t just for the residents nearby but the whole town.”

Built in 1953 the hothouse was designed by J Loring-Morgan and incorporated a large central conservatory complete with high level heating pipework. But after bad storms in the early 1990s, the glass was removed from the central conservatory and the building was left in disrepair.

The proposal is for the work to be done in phases with the first job to repair the frame of the building and make it stable for further development. 

Phase one would also see the cafe renovated and reopened to the public. 

The second phase would involve restoring the walls and ceiling of the hothouse, completing its transformation back to its former glory. Councillors are hoping to encourage new events like weddings, theatre productions and festivals as well as corporate functions. 

Ambitious plans to restore the Town Gardens Bowl have also been revealed by the council and work could start at the end of this year.

Plans for the Art Deco open-air theatre include a replacement for run down changing facilities, a refurbishment of the main shell structure and pods for concessions around the bowl area.

Parish clerk Rob Core told the council: “We inherited these assets and we recognise there’s a need for expertise in managing these sites. 

“We cannot leave them as they are, they’re deteriorating fast and we’re going for a phased approach.”

The parish is hoping to approve the hothouse plans and see work on phase one start in October this year, with a finish set for spring 2022 if all goes well.

A cost for the hothouse and the Town Gardens Bowl renovations has not yet been decided because the parish council is still consulting with contractors. 

The council has said a public consultation on the projects will be staged.