Swindon Borough Council have taken to social media to provide an update on the future of the vacant Groundwell Park and Ride site, off Cricklade Road.
The site has recently been used by the online retailer Amazon who have been storing delivery vans on the site overnight however despite the council announcing ‘the buyer has asked to remain anonymous for now’ they have also stated the buyer of the lease ‘will be utilising the site in the meantime’ leading many to draw their own conclusions on the new owner of the site.
The statement from the council states ‘The site will soon have a greener future after we completed the sale of the land, which is conditional on the buyer securing planning permission for the proposed development.
‘The buyer has asked to remain anonymous for now, but what we can tell you is that a planning application will likely be submitted for the construction of an electric vehicle storage and charging hub and ancillary logistics.
‘We expect a planning application will be submitted within the next four months and the buyer will have up to two years from the completion of the conditional contract to secure this planning permission and complete the sale.
‘Alongside this conditional contract, we have also negotiated and completed a two-year lease of the site to the same buyer, who will be utilising the site in the meantime.’
Councillor Keith Williams, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Finance and Commercialisation, said: “The Groundwell Park and Ride site has been lying empty for a number of years so I am really pleased we have found a buyer and the land will be brought back into use.
“We can’t say too much more at this stage about its future use, but the planning application when submitted will provide details of this.
“As Cabinet Member for Climate Change, I’m obviously delighted the new development supports the Council’s green agenda.”
