Swindon council to build canal-side terraces

In a move unusual for a council, Swindon Borough Council has announced that it intends to build houses beside the canal in Middle Wichel, rather than using a commercial developer. The houses will be in terraces which they say take inspiration from Swindon’s heritage, such as the GWR Railway Village in Swindon town centre. The houses are intended to feature larger rooms and larger windows than are normal in fully commercial developments. The houses — the first to be built in Middle Wichel — will be near the banks of the canal between Peglars Way and Mill Lane, to the north of Waitrose. If everything goes to schedule, building should start before the end of the year.

The June update [pdf] from the council’s Wichelstowe team also says that the council intends to update its Wichelstowe branding. The original branding was used not just on marketing materials but also on street signs approaching East Wichel.