The National Trust wanted the new centre to be in a very central location so that many of the 470 existing staff could commute easily from other parts of the country. Swindon was well-placed to meet these requirements with its excellent motorway and mainline rail links.
The town also has a strong skilled labour market to fill jobs that become vacant if people do not want to relocate.
The third important factor was readily available offices to rent, or land on which to build. The chosen site - a prime brownfield site in the town centre close to the railway station in Brunel's Great Western Railway Works - provided the added attractions of an historic location in the heart of the vibrant town, at a price favourable to London figures.
As Sue Holden, Director of Business Administration at the National Trust, said: "We wanted a location which was accessible so that the maximum number of existing staff could commute from London, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. We needed a location which had a good labour market and either office space or land available. Swindon offered us all of these".
The National Trust also seized the chance to play a part in supporting the regeneration of Swindon town centre and are designing a building which, while encompassing the latest sustainable and environmentally friendly technology in a striking design, is also in keeping with the architectural history of the location.
Swindon is blessed with excellent facilities including good sports centres and shops, and is surrounded by attractive countryside. The National Trust rightly believed that staff would welcome the chance to relocate to an area with so much to offer. Staff will of course also enjoy lower house prices than those in London and the South East.
A welcoming local authority and a developer keen to invest in the project were also invaluable ingredients to the relocation plans. A regionally-based architect was found who had empathy with the charity's aspirations both culturally and architecturally, and who will help them realise their plans. Work on the new office began in January 2004.
