Swindon Museum building goes up for sale

The former home of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery has gone on the market.

Grade II-listed Apsley House in Bath Road has been closed since the start of Covid because its split levels and limited capacity made social distancing impossible.

Swindon Borough Council subsequently moved the museum and art collections to its civic offices in Euclid Street until plans for a new site in the town’s proposed Cultural Quarter come forward.

The building is an Asset of Community Value (ACV) so the council must first offer community organisations six weeks to decide if they wish to a trigger a moratorium. If they chose to, they would have six months to put any bids together.

Aspley House, initially a private home, was built between 1830 and 1840 and is within a Conservation Area. It has a 1960s side and rear extension, the lower floors of which are leased to businesses.

Cllr Keith Williams, cabinet member for climate change, finance and commercialisation, said: “Apsley House holds a special place in the hearts of many local residents and we want to ensure it is brought back into use as soon as is practically possible.

“We have already had some interest but will wait to hear from community groups and organisations in the first instance to see if they would want to trigger the moratorium as part of the sale process.

“The Grade II listing means Apsley House itself will be protected and I look forward to seeing what proposals come forward.”

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