Call for building to become listed (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Call for building to become listed

The Renault buildingTHE Government is being asked to protect Swindon's most distinctive building.

Swindon Council has written to the Government asking it to list Norman Foster's famous Renault Centre.

The move comes as the building's owner, Burford Properties, considers how it could redevelop the building.

"We have written to the government to say that the Renault building may be at risk, and have asked them to give it Grade Il-listed status," a council spokesman said.

"As a local authority, we are unable to grant listed status ourselves.

"It is an important example of 1980s design by a world-famous architect, and as such the council believes that it should be preserved."

The building has been empty since Renault moved out in 2001, despite a £1m refurbishment by the last owner Green Property.

Burford Properties bought the centre from Green Property in 2004 but has not been able to let it.

Director Mark Boyes, at Burford, said: "The simple thing is it is vacant. We haven't been able to let it.

"I don't know what it is going to be. All I know is it is an iconic building.

"The building was constructed to be adapted in the future. Adapt it we will. I don't want to leave it fallow."

The company has employed ESA Architects and met council planners to discuss how the building could be developed.

Mr Boyes said the council did not want to lose the building.

The architects will come up with ideas in the next month to six weeks but Mr Boyes said he did not know whether it would be for residential, office or community use.

Local planning campaigner Alan Hayward said he would like to see the building back in use. "Demolishing it would be a terrible thing to happen to such a landmark building," he said.

"Perhaps the side that faces away from the road could be turned into affordable flats or apartments."

The Twentieth Century Society applied for the building to be listed in 2003 but thinks that the latest developments might force the Government to act.

Isabel Field