The Swindon Heritage Action Zone
The Carriage Works
Latest news
Since November 2022, Heritage Action Zone funding has been approved by Historic England to enable repairs to the front elevation of Units 7, 9 and 11 of the Carriage Works, (facing onto London Street).
Behind the scaffolding work they have begun to repair the external stonework and guttering and to repair, reglaze and redecorate the windows and doors. This will not only improve the building’s appearance from the street but also make it a more airtight and comfortable place to be.
These improvements are only one part of our comprehensive plan to refurbish the West Shed of the Carriage Works. Over £7million has been invested in the building so far.
Units 3 and 5 were refurbished in the summer of 2018 and they are now a thriving business incubator (Workshed) for creative and digital start-up businesses and desk co-working space. You can take a virtual tour of the space.
To enquire about booking a desk or office space at Workshed, view the Workshed website.
Unit 11 is now occupied by the Royal Agricultural University’s new Cultural Heritage Institute which is delivering postgraduate courses to train the next generation of heritage managers and professionals. You can take a virtual tour of the completed building.
Create Studios now occupy the state-of-the art digital media centre being created in Unit 9. Unit 7 is occupied by iCAST, a unique research and development centre established to drive change in the innovation strategies of companies working in green growth.
For more information see the Create Studios website or the icast website.
These works were funded by £4 million from the Getting Building Fund.
Phase 3a of the carriage works development started on site in February 2025. This will bring four units of the west shed into service - 10b, 12b, 13b and 14b - and also bring 8, 9 and 11 London Street into service too, adding approximately 23,000 square feet of new commercial space to Swindon’s portfolio.
This has been funded by £5 million of the Towns Fund deal issued to Swindon Borough council in 2020.
Next steps
The ongoing works in Phase 3a will continue until Spring 2026. We are also seeking further funding to complete the next phase of works which will see the remainder of the west shed units refurbished, as well as some units on London Street.
If you would like to find out how your organisation could occupy these exciting new spaces located within historic buildings only 5 minutes from Swindon station and town centre, then contact Mirabelle Stobbs at MStobbs@swindon.gov.uk.