Swindon Signals New Future for Station Area

Signal Point, an empty office block built over Swindon railway station, could be brought back into use as part of plans to regenerate more than 100 acres of land around the station.

Proposals, including options for the derelict building, are being drawn up by a working group whose members are Swindon Borough Council, Homes England, the Department for Business and Trade, Business West, UK Research and Innovation and representatives of the rail industry.

The council's ambition is a new mixed district, to be called Knowledge Central, combining business space, education and housing. It intends to present the concept at UKREiiF in May.

Funding has already been obtained to take the plans forward. Homes England has provided £100,000 to design, in detail, a new north entrance to the station together with a multi-storey car park on the site of the current north car park. A further £200,000 will pay for a full business case and investment proposition.

Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins welcomed the progress, saying the building had been an eyesore above the station for too long. He said reworking the station and its surroundings was a flagship element of the council's Heart of Swindon plans for the town centre, adding that improving the station would open up further development and give the town a gateway to be proud of. He acknowledged there was still much work ahead but said he was confident the partners could transform the site.

Business West's director of policy, Matt Griffith, said his organisation strongly backed the project, describing Signal Point's revival as symbolic of the wider aim to turn the railway quarter into a mixed-use area for homes, education, business and research. He praised the council's willingness to invest in delivery.

Source: UK Property Forums, original article (23 March 2026)