The council has announced that the abandoned Oakfield Project building will be demolished. 

The building on Marlowe Avenue has remained empty since the start of the pandemic, with some calling for it to be brought back into use. 

Nationwide was given permission to develop the university land it is situated on and is well on the way to building 238 sustainable homes there. 

In recognition of Nationwide's investment into the area, Swindon Borough Council set up a fund for the regeneration of the existing Oakfield Project building or other council-owned community assets in the local area.

A consultation event with local residents last November revealed that a community space would be welcomed by those living nearby.

But the council said that the existing disused building already in place was not suitable for this. 

A spokesperson said: "The option of refurbishing the Oakfield Project building, which has been empty since the start of the pandemic, has been explored, but rising construction costs and the poor condition of the building has made this proposal too expensive. As a result, approval is being sought for the building to be demolished."

Instead, the council will look to invest in other council-owned assets in the local area, and will inform residents living nearby when it has identified worthy targets.  

The Council is also assessing a proposal to build a small number of supported living or social housing units on the site.

Councillor Gary Sumner, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, transport and planning, said: “We received some really great feedback from residents following the consultation events at the end of last year.

"What was clear from those sessions was that local people want to see some form of community space as part of the Oakfield development and Council officers have been working with the local parish council and Nationwide to look at options for bringing forward those facilities.

“Our preferred option was to redevelop the existing Oakfield Project building, but it is in really poor condition and rising inflation has meant the costs of bringing it back into use are prohibitive. We will therefore see what opportunity there is for other Council-owned community assets in the area to be considered for the regeneration fund.”

Work on the housing in the area had stalled after Nationwide's contractor Mi-space suddenly collapsed into administration leaving the area a 'ghost town'.

But in July a new contractor was appointed - Lovell Partnerships Ltd.