Public Consultation: Old Town Hall and Corn Exchange

I am pleased this planning brief for the Old Town Hall and Corn Exchange is going out for public consultation.  The detailed and collaborative approach including top architects, English Heritage, developers and Forward Swindon seems to have really paid off.  It has been praised by the South West Design Panel. 

I am pleased this planning brief for the Old Town Hall and Corn Exchange is going out for public consultation.  The detailed and collaborative approach including top architects, English Heritage, developers and Forward Swindon seems to have really paid off.  It has been praised by the South West Design Panel. 

I hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to look at this planning brief and let us know their thoughts and comments on it.  I look forward to work starting on site and a sympathetic and viable scheme being delivered.  Hopefully it will create something very special not only for Old Town, but also for Swindon and the wider area.

Cllr Nadine Watts, Old Town

The Old Town Hall & Corn Exchange draft Planning Brief is a planning and design framework that sets out the Council’s aspirations for the site, which includes its own car parks (Market Square/Dammas Lane and The Planks), and potentially other existing buildings, including “the HSBC Bank” building and the Mason’s Lodge.

The draft Brief sets out information on key issues including;

•   potential uses
•   heritage and urban design considerations
•   the scale, massing and layout of new building elements
•   access and car parking

The draft Brief also features a specific design proposal for the site, prepared by the prospective developer, Swindon Corn Exchange Limited. Whilst it is anticipated that this scheme will proceed to implementation, subject to necessary planning and listed building consents, it is possible that alternative schemes will come forward.

Public consultation on the draft Planning Brief will run for 8 weeks from 30th July 2013 to 24th September 2013.

The draft Planning Brief will be exhibited at The Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town on Tuesday 30th July and Wednesday 31st July 2013 between the hours of 3.00pm and 7.00pm.

Copies of the draft Planning Brief will be available for public inspection at:

• The One-Stop Shop Reception Desk, Wat Tyler House West, Beckhampton Street, Swindon, SN12JH (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm)
•  The Civic Offices Reception, Euclid Street, Swindon, SN1 2JH (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.00pm)
• The Planning Brief will also be available to view at the Central, Old Town, North Swindon, West Swindon and Highworth Libraries during normal opening hours.

The draft Planning Brief is also available to view and download on the Borough’s website at:

www.swindon.gov.uk/spd

Any comments you may have on the draft document must be submitted in writing to the contact details below before 5.00pm on Tuesday 24th September 2013.  All comments received will be considered by the Local Planning Authority which will then consider whether or not it should propose amendments to the draft Brief, or recommend to the Planning Committee that it be approved for Development Control purposes.

Written comments relating to the documents may be sent free to:

Masterplanning and Design Team
Planning Department
Swindon Borough Council
Freepost SCE5251
5th Floor Wat Tyler House
Beckhampton Street
Swindon
SN1 2JH

Or e-mailed to: design&masterplanning@swindon.gov.uk