Roller skaters and skateboarders could soon be heading to new heights under plans to transform part of Whalebridge car park into a town centre skating venue.
Swindon Borough Council has submitted a planning application to convert the top two floors of Whalebridge car park, in Islington Street, into a roller skating facility as part of its wider efforts to revitalise the town centre.
If approved, the space would be operated by Swindon Skate Social and run initially as a pilot project, designed to test whether underused town centre locations can be successfully repurposed for leisure and creative activities.
While the proposal would be a first for Swindon, similar schemes have proven popular elsewhere. In Bristol, a former Debenhams store was temporarily transformed into ‘Shredenhams’, a dedicated skateboarding space that attracted visitors and breathed new life into an empty building.
Whalebridge car park is currently underused by town centre visitors, and the council says the proposal offers an opportunity to make the site more active while supporting community-led projects.
The plans form part of the council’s wider Heart of Swindon vision, which aims to encourage investment and reimagine the town centre over the next decade. The strategy calls for a broader mix of uses, including leisure, housing, hospitality and retail, alongside more traditional shopping.
Council leader Jim Robbins said finding new uses for existing spaces was key to the town centre’s future.
“We know the town centre needs a lot of love, and it’s something local people want us to improve,” he said. “Town centres are changing, and we want to see a better mix of housing, leisure, hospitality and retail in Swindon.
“If we want the town centre to thrive and encourage people to spend more time here, we need to explore innovative ideas like this proposal for Whalebridge car park.”
Cabinet member for finance Kevin Small said the scheme could help demonstrate what is possible in underused buildings.
“These changes would show how activities like this can turn underused spaces into vibrant community assets,” he said. “If successful, it could encourage other landowners to rethink how their buildings are used.
“We’re also exploring options for other car parks, and if this works well, we’d like to see similar facilities brought to other parts of the town centre.”
Gareth Davies, owner of Swindon Skate Social, said finding suitable skating spaces in the town had long been a challenge.
“We’ve been looking for a safe place to skate for a long time,” he said. “We currently have one regular booking, but it took two and a half years to find it, and we’ve outgrown it.
“This would be a safe environment with fresh air and a strong community feel. Skating brings people together, and the group is growing all the time.
“It’s not just attracting interest locally either. I’ve already spoken to people across the country who are excited about the idea. It could be a real bonus for Swindon.”
Planning applications have now been submitted and, if approved, work could begin later this summer.
