Landmark Swindon office block to be converted into apartments

Plans to convert a landmark office block in Swindon’s town centre into apartments have been submitted to the borough council.

The proposals to repurpose the building, which has been known both as SN1 and as Premier House, have been put forward by Swindon planning consultants DPDS Consulting (DPDS) on behalf of Peachtree Services.

SN1 on Station Road is a self-contained, purpose-built office building which until recently was partly occupied by Network Rail.  Peachtree Services, which represents the owners of the building, says that the conversion plans are driven by the fact that new post-pandemic hybrid working practices have reduced demand for offices, while the need for new homes has far outstripped supply.

Proposals to convert the ground and first floors of SN1 into 20 apartments were approved in May 2023.

The proposals now under consideration include the construction of two additional floors, and conversion of floors two to four, which would bring the total number of apartments in the building to 82.

Once they are completed it is anticipated that a further application will be submitted for two more apartments on the ground floor and two further apartments on the first floor.

The opportunity also exists to use part of the ground floor to create new commercial space, potentially providing an opportunity for a high quality coffee shop and/or a basket-led local convenience shopping store, which would introduce further new life and vibrancy to this part of the town centre.

During the development stage of the proposals, DPDS have been working closely with officers at Swindon Borough Council.

Nick Groves, managing director of Peachtree Services Ltd, said: “SN1 is an attractive building on one of the main thoroughfares through Swindon’s town centre, and one of the first buildings visitors arriving by train see as they exit the station to the south. It has served the town well as high-quality office accommodation, but since hybrid working has become the norm the interest in such premises has plummeted.

“The Council and others are putting great efforts into reshaping Swindon’s town centre and making it a place where people want to live, shop and spend their leisure time. We are very mindful of the role we can and should play in this, and are intent on creating new homes that will have the space and light needed for residents to enjoy a good quality of life.

“All the apartments, whether they have one or two bedrooms, will be created in line with the National Space Standards. And rather than building penthouses with astronomical price tags, we will make sure that they are priced so that they are within the budget of a wide range of buyers or renters, including single people, couples and small families.”

Les Durrant, managing director of DPDS Consulting Group, said these plans will return a key Swindon building to much-needed use.

He added: “SN1, or Premier House as it was earlier known, has been host to many different organisations including Swindon Borough Council over the years. It’s important that such a visible building is put to good use, rather than allowed to languish, and we are confident that these proposals will benefit the area considerably. They will provide more than 80 new homes in the heart of Swindon, within a stone’s throw of the railway station and within easy walking distance to the Designer Outlet, STEAM, the National Trust HQ and New College’s North Star campus.

“We have worked closely with Swindon Borough Council planners on this project, and we are hopeful that these proposals will meet with the planning committee’s approval.”