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Regeneration project sees Brunel ’ s Carriage Works brought back to life
The second phase of a project to regenerate Brunel ’ s historic Carriage Works is nearing completion . Built around 1876 , as part of the Great Western Works , the buildings were once the largest carriage works in the country , standing at the very forefront of Victorian industrial innovation .
Swindon is seeking to revitalise Brunel ’ s legacy with a mixeduse development within walking distance of Swindon station and the town centre .
Phase two includes an Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies , created using £ 4 million from the Government ’ s Getting Building Fund secured by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership ( SWLEP ).
A further £ 895,000 was secured by Create Studios from the Towns Fund and Arts Council to create a high-quality digital media facility .
Swindon Borough Council has already invested in two other units inside the Grade II listed building to transform it into a thriving business incubator for creative and digital start-up businesses , alongside desk co-working space . A further unit has been turned into the Royal Agricultural University ’ s new Cultural Heritage Institute , which will train the next generation of heritage managers and professionals .
Work has also been taking place on the exterior of the building , including the creation of two new business units on the lower ground floor facing onto London Street .
Historic England has provided
£ 174,893 in funding for the scheme , through the Swindon Heritage Action Zone , which will see the restoration of the exterior stonework and new glazing to the windows on both the lower and upper floors .
The lower ground floor units , which were in a bad state of repair ,
“ It ' s great to see the Carriage Works being transformed into an attractive new home for so many businesses ”
are currently being turned into usable units ready for occupation later this year .
The funding from Historic England was awarded as part of the wider Heritage Action Zone programme to deliver sustainable long-term regeneration to historic buildings in the area known as The Works .
The next stage of the redevelopment is currently in the design phase . It will include streetfacing units as well as the Bristol Street car park-facing elevation .
Councillor Matty Courtliff , Swindon Borough Council ’ s Cabinet Member for Culture ,
Heritage , Leisure and Town Centre Experience , said , “ I ’ m very excited to see this latest phase of the Carriage Works being completed .
“ So much work has gone into this and it ’ s great to see this historic building , which was once at the forefront of Victorian imagination , being repurposed as a 21st century hub of innovation , knowledge and creativity .
“ Whilst many residents may not get to see the inside of the building , the exterior works will brighten up the area and help highlight the amazing heritage we have in the town centre .”
Rebecca Barrett , Regional Director at Historic England , added , “ It ’ s great to see the Carriage Works being transformed into an attractive new home for so many businesses .
" It ’ s the perfect future for a building long associated with innovation and enterprise .”
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