Work begins on third phase of Carriage Works regeneration

The building, once part of the largest locomotive carriage works in the country, was built in 1876 as part of Brunel’s Great Western Works and was a symbol of Victorian industrial innovation.

However, following the closure of the Works in 1986, the building and surrounding area sat empty until 2018 when the first phase of work to regenerate the site was completed.

This saw the opening of The Workshed, a business incubator for entrepreneurs, pioneers and creative thinkers. The unit provides office space to digital, tech and creative businesses, while also acting as a co-working space for anyone in need of a desk for the day.

Phase two then quickly progressed with the Cultural Heritage Institute, run by the Royal Agricultural University, opening in 2020 and delivering Masters Courses in Heritage-related subjects. This was soon followed by a film-making space for Create Studios, with a range of community, educational and commercial projects being delivered from the unit.

The latest addition is the Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST), operated by the University of Bath in partnership with the University of Oxford and others. This is a unique collaboration to help deliver innovation in green, sustainable technologies.

Now Swindon Borough Council has appointed Nationwide Engineering to deliver the third phase of works which will see four units converted into usable space.

Following the completion of phase two, and the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluations took place to determine what kind of space would best suit current market demand.

As a result, phase three will now include different units to the initial phases and will be designed as ‘shell and core’ spaces, meaning they are flexible for an incoming tenant to put their own style into. This could include high quality office, research and development, educational spaces or digital and creative work areas. The development also includes newly refurbished spaces on the Bristol Street car park side of the building and on London Street which has been in a derelict state and not been occupied for several decades.

The new phase will also work alongside the recently announced regeneration of the Railway Quarter, located between the Carriage Works and Swindon train station.

Partnership work between the Council, Business West, Network Rail and other organisations is ongoing to decide how the land can be repurposed to provide a new commercial, educational and residential quarter, whilst retaining essential car parking next to the station.

Councillor Kevin Small, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “As a former railwayman I know that the Carriage Works played an important part in Swindon’s past and we’re keen to make sure it has an important role in Swindon’s future.

“Already we have four thriving organisations inside the building and we’re very keen to add to that.

“Not only will this bring new life to these historic buildings, but it will also enhance the surrounding area, bringing in more footfall to the town centre and providing high quality business spaces close to the train station which connects Swindon to two capital cities within an hour – the only place in the UK to do so.

“I’m very pleased with how the work has begun and I look forward to seeing the finished units.”

Tim Evans, Chief Operating Officer at from Nationwide Engineering Limited, said: “As a prominent Wiltshire based SME business we’re extremely proud to have been awarded this contract to carry out the next phase of regenerating this historic part of the former Carriage Works.

“With our long running frameworks with Network Rail undertaking many heritage refurbishment contracts, this project links very well with our skilled resources and supply chain.

“We’re also engaging with new local suppliers in the Swindon area to deliver the majority of the activities included in this project, many of which have links with the former Carriage Works prior to it closing down in mid-1980’s.

"We look forward to working with Swindon Borough Council and their team on this project, and handing over the completed units before the end of 2025."