New plans to redevelop Swindon's Locarno building

The Victorian building was to be converted to flats and restaurants

New plans to redevelop Swindon's Locarno corn exchange site are being revealed, more than a year after the developer went into administration.

Original proposals by Bach Homes for more than 100 apartments have now changed to a large hotel, an underground car park and flats.

The plans will be on display at Devizes Road Arts Centre between 1430 and 1900 BST on Wednesday.

The building has been empty for a number of years.

The redevelopment was put on hold when Bach Homes went into administration in March 2009.

Swindon borough councillor Mike Bawden said at the time he believed the deterioration of the economic climate was to blame.

Councillor Bawden said the new plans had been submitted by a sister company of what was Bach Homes.

"We were very concerned because it was the worst economic downturn since before the Second World War, and we've been keeping a very close eye on the project," he said.

"The developers have decided they want to approach the site in a different way, but the outside will look very similar to the previous proposal in terms of design.

"Residents are particularly interested in the potential problem with traffic.

"There's only one proposed road into the development so our traffic engineers will be looking at that very carefully."

Planning permission for the redevelopment scheme was given by the borough council in February 2008.