Planning permission is being sought to build houses on the site of a former West Swindon office development – the latest in a number of projects to turn outdated offices and factories around the town into much-needed residential space.
Plans for Westlea Rise, a development of up to 70 new homes on the former site of Westlea Campus, off Mead Way, pictured, are being considered by Swindon Borough Council. 
The site was formerly home to a showpiece office development built in the 1980s as part of Swindon’s western expansion and was at one time one of the town’s prime office schemes with occupiers such as the Training and Enterprise Council as well as hi-tech companies and service firms.
However, changes in office use meant it fell into disuse and the developer behind the scheme, London-based Picton Capital, said it had become obsolete with insufficient demand from office-based companies to justify the costs of refurbishing it to modern standards.
Outline planning permission for development of the site was granted in February 2015. If full approval is given housebuilder Bellway will contribute almost £250,000 towards education in the area. A further £55,000 will be invested in culture and leisure facilities and around £60,000 will be spent on off-site open space.
Contributions will also be made towards community safety, local health facilities, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and highways improvements.
Bellway South West sales manager for Tim Lund, pictured, said: “We are always on the lookout for brownfield sites to redevelop, and this piece of land presents a great opportunity to provide quality new homes at a site that had fallen into disuse.
“This development has been designed to meet the needs of a variety of home-hunters and it is in a good location, with Swindon town centre and access to the M4 nearby. 
“We believe that the proposed development would be a great asset for the local area, and we’re looking forward to receiving feedback on our plans.”
“We’re excited by the potential of this site, and we looking forward to welcoming visitors to the development later this year.”
The plans for Westlea Rise feature a selection of two, three and four-bedroom homes. An Aldi supermarket could also be built as part of wider plans for the site.
Westlea Rise would be the second development in Swindon to be built by Bellway’s South West division, which launched last year.
It is also building and selling homes at its Liberty Park development, which is being built on land off Headlands Grove.
