’20-25 squatters’ seize vacant Nationwide building
Wakefield House, off Pipers Way in Old Town has been vacant since March 2021, when Nationwide decided not to renew its lease on the site, and could soon be turned into a housing development. This week, however, the building has been occupied by a group of people of who have barricaded themselves inside and are refusing the leave despite the police being called, the Adver understands. On Wednesday, June 10, the Adver was informed that "a group of masked people had taken control" of the site on Monday.
The source added that police had attended, but were not successful in convincing them to depart. Photos taken at the property show two security vehicles - a van and an estate car - on the drive at the entrance to the building. A member of security said that "20 to 25" people were inside and said he did not know why they were there, but confirmed the report that they refused to leave the site.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police confirmed they were called to the building and spoken to those involved, but it is a civil matter as it relates to trespass. The spokesperson for the force said: "While we have visited the site and spoken to the people involved, this is not currently a criminal matter as it relates to trespass, which is a civil offence." 
As reported in May of this year, Warwickshire-based Redford Developments has recently acquired Wakefield House, the 200,000sq ft former Nationwide offices, intending to transform the site into a residential community. Outline plans propose up to 228 new homes, as supported by a draft allocation in Swindon Borough Council's emerging Local Plan and the Pipers Way regeneration area. Nationwide Building Society closed Wakefield House when the coronavirus pandemic reached the UK in 2020, and then decided in 2021[1] that it would vacate the premises permanently and not renew the leases.
Although it has relocated to a more modern office nearby, the organisation remains Swindon's largest employer.
Wakefield House was built in 1972 as the showpiece headquarters for Burmah Castrol and is set in nearly 11 acres of landscaped grounds off Pipers Way and close to the M4.