Major change approved for former Swindon motorcycle showroom

Swindon Borough Council has given the green light for the change of use of the former Mega Motorcycle Store at Unit 22, Elgin Industrial Estate, to become an indoor golf simulator range, subject to conditions.

The application was submitted by Paul Simpson of The West Berkshire Golf Club.

A major change has been approved for a former motorcycle showroom in Swindon. (Image: Google Maps)

Plans indicate that the new facility will include six simulators, a central putting green, café, toilets, and a seating area, and is proposed to operate from 9am to 10pm, seven days a week.

According to the planning documents, the new golf centre is expected to create approximately 12 full-time jobs.

In a statement supporting the application, Mr Simpson explained: "The indoor golf facility proposed will include a number of simulators used for training and competition events for a range of customers, including social events, training sessions, and competitions.

"The proposal includes putting green, seating areas and ancillary refreshments, along with staff facilities.

"The facility will provide booked sessions for a range of age groups and abilities, operated by a professional recognised by both the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and English Golf Union."

The council’s decision to approve the plans comes with several conditions.

These include the development beginning within three years, and the premises being used solely as an indoor golf simulator range.

The site is to be reconfigured to provide 26 car parking spaces and eight new cycle spaces.

The building spans 1,224 square metres and was last used as a motorcycle showroom in 2017.

The showroom is located on Athena Avenue on Elgin Industrial Estate, which is home to a mix of industrial, storage and distribution, commercial, and business uses.

The areas also accommodates other indoor sports uses, such as a trampoline park and climbing centre, a jiu-jitsu facility, and a dance academy.

The site had been marketed for both sale and lease for around eight years but had remained vacant, suggesting that continued employment use had been difficult to secure.

The report submitted alongside the decision states: "The proposed use is unlikely to adversely impact the regeneration of Swindon Central Area, given the relatively modest scale and nature of the proposed indoor sports use."

The plans had previously faced objections from the Highways Department due to concerns over insufficient parking provision information.

However, after alterations to the parking layout and clarification of anticipated demand, the department withdrew its objections.

The council’s report stated: "Significant weight is therefore given in favour of the proposal to the reuse of a long-standing vacant building and its return to active use."

The report also highlighted that the proposed use is consistent with several other indoor sports and leisure uses within the surrounding commercial area.

It concluded that the benefits associated with the reuse of the vacant building, combined with the proposed employment opportunities, outweighed the "limited conflict arising from the loss of employment land."

The former motorcycle showroom sits prominently in views from the adjacent A4311, and the new plan includes the reconfiguration of grass verges and the planting of six new trees.

This is expected to be a positive enhancement, given the site’s location next to a prominent thoroughfare.

The approval of the planning application marks a new chapter for the old motorcycle showroom, bringing a fresh use to the long-vacant building.