Swindon Borough Council has approved plans for a £700,000 project to renovate Lydiard House in Swindon, Wiltshire, to create a new learning space for local students. The planning committee granted approval on March 10, 2026, for the upper floors of the historic building to be updated for educational use.
The renovated rooms will serve as a sixth-form learning centre for students from Lydiard Park Academy. This project is part of a plan to make the mansion more financially sustainable while keeping its heritage intact.
Public access to the house will continue, as the ground-floor State Rooms will not be changed by the new educational facilities. The council confirmed that the building will remain open for visitors and events alongside its new role as a school hub.
While the Friends of Lydiard Park, a local charity that supports the mansion, has been involved in discussions, the group had previously called for a pause on the bid due to concerns over the potential loss of museum accreditation. However, the council stated that this move will help secure the long-term maintenance of the property for residents to enjoy for years to come.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
