Swindon Broadwalk bar to become shops and flats

The ground floor of the former bar will become two shops

Plans to convert an empty bar in Swindon into shops and flats have been approved.

Swindon Borough Council has approved Armada Holdings Ltd's plan to remodel the empty building at 32-24 Bridge Street - formerly The Broadwalk bar.

The ground floor will become two shops and the second storey will become five flats.

The first floor is also proposed to become flats, but will need a separate application.

Armada Holdings' application said there would be no parking provided, as the company was taking a "car-free approach" and the town centre location would make use of a car unnecessary, although in its plans it will provide eight bike parking spaces.

The borough council's urban design officer was not entirely impressed with the proposal at first and said: "The proposal exhibits unacceptable levels of overshadowing, outlook and private amenity standards.

"The proposal seeks to create a series of mostly single‐aspect dwellings with very limited opportunities for achieving and securing our amenity requirements."

After revisions were submitted earlier this year, the urban design officer was described as "broadly satisfied" and the permission was granted.