After years of waiting, the new homes scheme long promised for The Locarno in Old Town, Swindon, is about to be delivered.

Developers Bach Homes have been given planning permission by Swindon Borough Council for a development that will bring 129 homes and a new register office overlooking a piazza, plus a bistro restaurant, coffee shop, and bar.

The Locarno and Old Town Hall have been devastated by two fires that have left a crumbling shell in what should be the showpiece heart of Old Town.

Over the years, various schemes have been put forward and last summer local company Bach Homes revealed its initial plans for the site, drawn up in cooperation with Swindon Borough Council and Locarno owner Gael MacKenzie.

Bach Homes managing director Steve Rosier, whose company is based at Uffcott, just to the south of Swindon, anticipates the company will start work on site in the summer now planning permission had been granted.

“There has been so much talk in the past about what should happen to The Locarno that we are delighted to bring this scheme to fruition,” said Mr. Rosier.

“Instead of being an eyesore, The Locarno and Old Town Hall site is going to be reinvigorated while delivering homes that people need and letting many realise the dream of home ownership for the first time.

“Gaining planning permission is a landmark stage. We are now really looking forward to pressing ahead.”

The homes will range from studio apartments through to luxury penthouses but the message is that the Locarno will have something for everyone.

The scheme includes a new register office with homes on the three floors. They will overlook a piazza in front of the Old Town Hall. The Old Town Hall and Locarno, together with new build structures, will provide many more homes as well as a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and gym together with what Bach Homes describes as a “stunning” internal courtyard with water features, sensitive planting, and lighting.

Most of the homes will have access to balconies or terraces providing outside space and they will all give their owners access to secure parking.

Bach Homes was founded by Mr. Rosier in 2002 and took on redundant Vodafone offices in Newbury as its first project. The Georgian buildings, together with new build alongside, brought more than 20 homes to the town and won a national award from the Daily Mail when it was named Best UK Redevelopment in 2005.

Since then, Bach has restored The Clock Tower in Gloucester, turning a landmark wrecked by fire into 24 new homes through adding sensitively designed buildings alongside. It has enhanced the company’s reputation for restoring buildings and bringing new life to them.