THE future of a large office block that looms over the town centre and has been left empty for years provoked a lot of discussion among Adver readers.

New plans were submitted proposing to turn the six-storey Falcon House eyesore above the former home of Debenhams into 66 flats.

The offices overlooking Fleming Way have been empty for more than a decade and have become a target of by vandals and graffiti artists.

Developer Carl Dawson, who gives his address at Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands, has asked Swindon Borough Council for prior approval for his proposal to turn Falcon House into apartments.

This idea had a mixed reaction from our readers, who had their own suggestions for what to do with the building.

Ian Murray: "Knock it down, start again."

Clive Patton: "Think it'll take a lot more than 66 flats to breathe new life into town centre."

Ashton Bourne: "We don't need more flats in town."

Nick Kearns: "Knock it down and build something that is pleasing on the eye."

Zoe Thomas: "The developers would have assessed whether or not the flats would sell or rent before going ahead. They clearly think more flats would be welcome."

Leanne Newman: "Don't need more flats, that’s all they are doing in Swindon. Don't need more, they are building enough houses and flats already round the town.

"We need our shops back, that will bring things back to life, not flats."

Angelina Charlotte: "Build a brand new complex."

Mandy Baker: "We don't need more flats. Swindon needs more shops and something to attract people."

Tracey Dodson: "It's all well and good saying new shops but the rent is too high for most of them."

Nicolas Gillingham: "Everyone here crying for more shops and more retail outlets.

"Don't forget it was you who wanted to save a fiver so you bought online. It was you who wanted a ready made costume for World Book Day instead of buying the bits locally and crafting it.

"'I don't have enough time.' 'Oh but it's more convenient.' And so on. Local business could never compete with online purchasing, especially when the rent on retail units is so high.

"Take a look in the mirror before lambasting the council for trying to do something."

Paul Adams: "The parking has always been there since it was an office block in the 1970s. With people living back in the town centre, it may well rejuvenate the area."

Andy Smith: "Not sure about all the one-bed and studios but changing the the use to residential has to be a better use.

"The footprint of the town centre is way too big. It’s not the 1960’s anymore."

Sam Jones: "All the people suggesting knocking it down and starting again - do you realise the huge amount of carbon this releases into the atmosphere?

"The greener option is to reuse the existing building and repurpose it into something useful."

Peter Eagles: "It's something. I mean, if nothing was done with the building it would just end up getting squatted in anyway."

Darren Prior: "The town does need a massive improvement but people shop online.

"Maybe they should invest in building a new bigger theatre, build new leisure builds, they were talking about an indoor ski slope, a new swimming pool, push the sport side, improve our outdoor parks, a world food court etc. Then companies might come back to Swindon to open shops."