Many people living in Swindon want to see the empty commercial units in the town centre filled with a shop or business - but how much does it actually cost to bring them back to life? 

There are 106 commercial properties for rent on the Rightmove website but only a handful of them are based in the town centre. Of those, only two have listed their prices for the public to see. 

The Adver has gone through the list and put together the prices and what you could get in Swindon's main retail area if you're willing to set up shop. 

Former Dorothy Perkins/Burton unit, Canal Walk - £6,250pcm

Swindon Advertiser:

This 5,224 sq ft building was formerly occupied by Dorothy Perkins/Burton until the Arcadia group shut the store in 2019 as part of nationwide closures. 

This will cost £75,000 per year, on top of the £21,840 Rigtmove lists as the service charge.

The unit, which stretches over two floors, is in between JD Sports and Card Factory. 

The Topshop unit on the Parade, which was used by the same owners as Dorothy Perkins/ Burton was listed for a rental of about £14,583 per month in 2020. 

Former Cakecraft UK unit, Faringdon Road - £1,200 pcm

Swindon Advertiser:

Still in the town centre but more out of the way is the former Cakecraft UK unit situated next to Giggles on Faringdon Road. 

The short distance from Canal Walk, as well as a smaller size at 141 sq m also means it's significantly cheaper than the Dorothy Perkins/Burton story are £14,400 per year. 

It does have rear access and customer parking though.

Brunel Shopping Centre - Price not listed

Swindon Advertiser:

There are several listings within the Brunel Shopping Centre that are listed for commercial rental but interestingly, all of them withhold the rental price - instead saying that they will be revealed on application. 

The first listing, noted as being in 'Brunel Plaza', consists of several units between 153-35,000 sq ft.

The second listing, this time in 'The Brunel Shopping Centre', has smaller units availalbe from 153 sq ft - 10,796 sq ft. 

Finally, the last listing relates to the The Crossing food hub with the shopping centre looking for new food vendors to take one of the many units available from 330 sq ft - 1,245 sq ft.

Read: The cost of renting a shop in Swindon's town centre in 2020