Queens Drive affordable housing scheme almost complete

The final units of a £34m affordable housing scheme along Queens Drive will be handed over to tenants in the coming weeks.

A total of 149 homes - 100 apartments and 49 houses - have been built on the site of the former George Gay Gardens residential block and adjacent blocks of flats.

The first phase of the project, which included 47 homes, was completed in 2021 with residents moving in shortly afterward.

In the current second phase, 64 of the new homes are occupied and the remaining 38 units, when completed by Swindon Borough Council contractor Wilmott Dixon, will see tenants moving in by mid-March.

Cllr Janine Howarth, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “I’m very pleased to see this scheme is close to completion and I hope that everyone that moves in will be very happy living here.

“It’s important that Swindon has affordable housing for our residents. Not only that, but we must also make sure these developments improve our local environment, and the inclusion of solar panels and bird boxes is a huge positive for the local area.”

Council leader Cllr Jim Robbins said: “It’s great to see this scheme completed and it’s positive that the units are already being occupied by residents.

“This scheme fits our three main missions of Building a Better Swindon, Reducing Inequality and Achieving Net Zero and I’m sure the new units will be great to live in.

“We also intend to build on this project with more affordable housing and we hope to have some big announcements in the near future.”

The buildings have been designed to reflect Swindon’s railway heritage, with the gable ends based on the widths of the former engine sheds in the Railway Works.

The homes have been built with solar panels and have triple glazing, while dozens of bird boxes have been installed and more trees planted to promote local wildlife.

As well as increasing the number of affordable homes in Swindon, the council says, the development will act as a gateway to the town, providing a more welcoming drive into the town centre.