AFTER 150 years on the same site the Swindon Advertiser is selling its Old Town building and relocating to a different site.

The three-storey building in Victoria Road has been home to the daily newspaper – which was founded by William Morris in 1854 – and its sister titles since the late 19th century, after the business outgrew Morris’ father’s shop in Wood Street.

During that time the building has been a hive of activity. It even ran its own printing press on the ground floor until the late 1990s, when production was moved to Oxford.

Over the years, advancements in technology, including switching to computers from typewriters have meant fewer personnel have been needed, leading to the shrinking of the workforce.

Today, only the top floor is occupied by the business, leading to the decision to relocate somewhere else in the town.

Shamus Donald, the regional managing director of Newsquest, which owns the newspaper, said: “The offices in Victoria Road, Old Town, have been home to the Swindon Advertiser for 150 years.

“Although we are planning to move to more appropriate premises to meet the changing needs of our business, the Swindon Advertiser remains fully committed to remaining at the heart of life in Swindon.”

“We recognise that Newspaper House is an important part of the Old Town landscape and our agents have been in careful consultation with Forward Swindon to ensure that whatever happens on the site after we move on is in keeping with this special part of the town.”

The sale of the property is being managed by property consultants, Alder King,who think the building will be most suitable for buyers looking to convert the offices into retail facilities combined with offices or flats.

The building is a 3,260sq m space, and any future development design would need to be appropriate to the local Conservation Area.

James Gregory, a partner at Alder King, said: “We have had some initial expressions of interest in the property and I think it is most suited to buyers who want to convert the building into retail on the ground floor and flats or offices on the second and third floors.”

To arrange an inspection of the building, contact James Gregory of Alder King on 01793 428106 or email jgregory@alderking.com or Martin Baker on 01793 428102 or email mbaker@alderking.com.