A 19th century building in the heart of Swindon, which harks back to the town’s Victorian expansion, can be turned into flats in its upper storeys.
The building at 13 Regent Street is currently used as a phone shop, and at street level appears to be not much more than a normal 21st century shop with plate glass taking up almost all the frontage.
But above that, the late 19th century building is much more interesting, with a red brick frontage typical of some of Swindon’s most important buildings from the time, and a protruding roofed window and ornate parapet.
Developer Moretons Investments Ltd, which is based in Brighton, has been given permission by Swindon Borough Council to convert the two upstairs floors into two flats.
The one-bedroom flats would be arranged one per floor, with the open plan kitchen and living room looking out over the shopping street and the bedroom looking out at the back of the property.
The space on the ground floor will be retained as retail.
A separate application by Moretons Investments, which would allow it to construct cycle storage at the back of the building and also to narrow the retail space and put in a front door off Regent Street leading to a staircase directly up to the first and second floors, has also been approved.
The developer’s application, which said the upper storeys had been vacant for at least three months, necessary for the prior approval sought, added: “Within the current climate many additional commercial buildings will become redundant due to the effects on the economy from coronavirus encouraging many customers to change their shopping habits.
“This conversion and change of use will contribute towards the integration of more housing into Swindon’s town centre where there is a clear need and will help in its regeneration.”
Swindon Borough Council’s conservation officer emphasised how important the building is: “The present building is an interesting and visual reminder of 19th Century development which in Swindon included its significant expansion post the arrival of the railway.”
The report added: “The main changes are to the ground floor, the most altered section. Whilst not taking opportunities to reinforce the building’s 19th Century origins, which is unfortunate, the changes are such that the significance as remains would not be adversely affected.”
The application to convert the upper storeys to flats and to change the outside appearance were both approved.
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