An ‘updated’ version of a planning application for Cavendish Square, in Parks estate, has been sent out for consultation. This is on the 2nd car park, which was built on the derelict land (left by the demolition of the old Co-op shop).
The original proposal was not well received by a range of organisations and local reesidents, not only for safety issues but because it was clearly a profiteering project, the main motive being selling 14 very small flats (originally 8 were proposed). If the proposed shops were rented out they would only make the existing shops finances more precarious. The design also proposed a narrow pathway between the new building, which raised safety concerns, and the existing shops would be overshadowed by three storeys.
The owner of the land, it should be recalled, was the very same person who started demolishing Clifton Street school without permission. He told a judge that he didn’t think he needed permission to demolish it. He lost his appeal for planning permision and then lost his appeal against the decision to reinstate the building.
You can find the ‘revised’ application here:
View or comment on a planning application | Swindon Borough Council
Click on the Public access for planning system button and then type in ‘keyword’ Cavendish Square.
If you can click on the Documents, you can read all the objections, including
- Swindon Council’s Transport Development Manager
- South Swindon Parish Council
- Councillor Janine Howarth
- Maggie Hathaway-Mills on behalf of the tenants of George Hall Court.
It appears that the only difference is the insertion of a ‘community cafe’ which is a sop to the council. The applicant obviously knows that there are a number of other community cafes around the town, and added it presumably to encourage acceptance of the application. Apart from this, there appear to be no substantive difference in the proposals.
Objections
The deadline for comment is September 6th. You can comment by emailing sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk Please put in your objections.
It’s worth reminding ourselves that when the original regeneration of Cavendish Square was put forward we were told that it would “revamp community facilities creating a fantastic place to live, play, and shop”. There would be a roof over it and it would locked up at night. In reality it was a project done on the cheap and the council administration at the time, lost control because they gave away the land to ‘developers’. If this application were to be granted it would add insult to injury.
For those who don’t know the history of the ‘regeneration’ and events since then, you might find these two articles useful.
Martin Wicks
August 27th 2025
Cavendish Square Campaign 