Blocks of flats and houses to replace WH Smith HQ
If the landmark tower block used by WH Smith as its headquarters in east Swindon is demolished, it will be replaced, in part, by tower blocks of flats
If the landmark tower block used by WH Smiths as its headquarters in east Swindon is demolished, it will be replaced, in part, by tower blocks of flats.
The dozen blocks of flats will make up just a part of the 219 homes which can be built on the site now hosting the office block and warehouse on the corner of Greenbridge Roundabout.
WH Smith, which has recently sold its high street shops to concentrate on its outlets at stations and airports, had previously been given outline permission for the demolition of its existing buildings, and the redevelopment of the site.
Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee was then asked to decide on the application setting out how the buildings will look, be laid out and other matters such as landscaping.
The submitted plans show that houses and flats will form a line along the boundaries with Greenbridge Road and the recently built houses on what has been part of the site in Smiths Lane.
The five- and six-storey blocks of flats will form entrance and boundary markers to the site, with houses predominating in the interior of the estate.
Closer to the corner, on the roundabout, the houses run largely west to east and there is a wide, green, wooded walking track running down the centre of the site.
At the southern end of the green corridor will be another green area incorporating a children’s playground.
The boundaries with the busy Dorcan Way and Drakes Way will feature trees, hedges and shrubs as screening.
At the main entrance to the site from Greenbridge Road, a curved “Welcome Wall” will be constructed around one of the flood-alleviation ponds, deliberately designed, the application says to echo the curved roofs of the warehouse building that stands on the site now.
Members of the committee had few concerns, but Councillor Matthew Vallender asked why the parking provision was below the council’s own standards for new developments.
The council’s senior highways officer, Gerry Prodohl said: “The site is so accessible that we believe that it will not create excess demand for parking.”
Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh was told that viability studies meant no contribution had been made to education as part of the Section 106 agreement and that the same issue meant only 10 per cent of the homes will be available as “affordable” homes compared to the 30 per cent the council normally asks.
The members unanimously voted to follow the planning officers’ recommendation and approve the scheme.