Bess Road Swindon
2 addresses across 2 postcodes (SN5), about 120 m long, classed as a local road. USRN 83875766.
- Flood: No address on its postcodes is in an area at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band D; Band D in Swindon costs £2,438 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 100% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Swindon (Wilts), about 4.4 km (2.8 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: There is a small park or garden about 70 m away, and Lydiard Country Park (108 hectares) is about 560 m (0.3 miles) away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 8.9 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 6.5 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 106 to 108 m above sea level.
- Noise: 1 of its 2 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Ashington House Surgery, about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) away.
- People: About 540 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 89% of households owned their home and 33% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 33 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often violence and sexual offences.
Sales on this street
No sales recorded on this street since January 1995 under this street name.
Energy performance certificates
No certificates found for addresses on this street.
Council tax
What each band costs in Swindon in 2026-27: Band D £2,438 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,625 | £1,896 | £2,167 | £2,438 | £2,980 | £3,522 | £4,064 | £4,876 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this street: most are in band D (46% of about 540 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: no postcode centre in this street's postcodes is in one.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: none.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Tree preservation orders: none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Green belt: no.
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Windmill Hill School, Uxbridge Road, not permissioned (630 m (0.4 miles))
Roadworks
No street works under way, planned or finished in the last three months on this street, in permits up to 31 October 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 0 addresses are in areas at high risk, 0 at medium risk and 1 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: no postcode centre on this street is in flood zone 2 or 3.
| Postcode | Planning zone | Addresses at high / medium / low risk | Groundwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| SN5 6BL | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 1 | unlikely |
| SN5 6DB | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's 2 addresses are between 106 m and 108 m above sea level (107 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SN5 6BL | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| SN5 6DB | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway station | Swindon (Wilts) 3.2 million journeys in 2024–25 | 4.4 km (2.8 miles) |
| Bus stops | 7 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 37 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Windmill Hill Estate Office | 260 m |
| Car parks | Asda Swindon Car Park | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| EV charging points | 2 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Ionity Swindon VH | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | Bristol Airport BRS | 63.4 km (39 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 1 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Ashington House Surgery | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 3 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Facechoice Pharmacy | 480 m (0.3 miles) |
| NHS dentists | 4 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Freshbrook Dental Practice Limited | 480 m (0.3 miles) |
| Hospital | Ridgeway Hospital | 5.1 km (3.2 miles) |
| Police station | Wiltshire Police | 3.9 km (2.4 miles) |
| Cash machines | Midcounties Co-Op Roughmoor, Unit 2 Swinley Drive, Peatmoor Cashzone | 2.7 km (1.7 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 8 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 9,170 m² | 70 m |
| Largest park within 800 m (0.5 miles) | Lydiard Country Park 108 ha | 560 m (0.3 miles) |
| Play area | 10 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 410 m² | 170 m |
| Playing field | Unnamed 3.1 ha | 2.4 km (1.5 miles) |
| Allotments | Unnamed 1.1 ha | 1.2 km (0.8 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 8 parks and gardens, 116 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Roman pottery 140m SSW of Tewkesbury Cross, a scheduled monument, 1 km (0.6 miles) north-east. 2 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles).
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Roman pottery 140m SSW of Tewkesbury Cross | Scheduled monument | 1 km (0.6 miles) north-east |
| Lydiard Park | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) north-west |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Greendown Plantation | Wood | 320 m north |
| Spring Plantation | Wood | 670 m (0.4 miles) north-west |
| Hagbourne Copse | Wood | 760 m (0.5 miles) south |
| Quarr Plantation | Wood | 1 km (0.6 miles) north-west |
| Toot Hill | Hill | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) east |
| Peatmoor Lagoon | Lake or reservoir | 2.7 km (1.7 miles) north |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 8.9 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 6.5 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 11.3 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; PM2.5 is above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| 60 to 64 | 1 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 1 | 2 |
1 of the street's 2 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, above the WHO guidelines.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for Swindon: see them on the Swindon page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millbrook Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 570 m (0.4 miles) | No overall grade (Nov 2024, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Good |
| Lydiard Park Academy | Secondary | 11–18 | 610 m (0.4 miles) | No published inspection |
| Tregoze Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 950 m (0.6 miles) | Report card (Jan 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Strong standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Oliver Tomkins Church of England Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | 1 km (0.6 miles) | Report card (Jan 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Needs attention; Achievement: Needs attention; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Needs attention; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Oliver Tomkins Church of England Infant and Nursery School | Primary | 3–7 | 1 km (0.6 miles) | No published inspection |
| Lift Hazelwood | Primary | 2–11 | 1.5 km (1 mile) | Good (Nov 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Shaw Ridge Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 1.7 km (1 mile) | Good (Mar 2022, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Westlea Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | Good (Jun 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter Storey (c/o BNP Swindon) SN5 6PE | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 430 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Baxter Storey Ltd (c/o RWE) SN5 6PB | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 460 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 7 Sep 2026 |
| Childbase - Windmill Hill Day Nursery SN5 6NX | Hospitals/Childcare/Caring Premises | 470 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 20 Aug 2026 |
| Millfield James Ltd SN5 6JG | Hospitals/Childcare/Caring Premises | 470 m (0.3 miles) | 4 Good | 18 Jan 2024 |
| Tesco Express SN5 8LY | Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 480 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 14 Nov 2024 |
| Alpha Pre-School SN5 8LY | Hospitals/Childcare/Caring Premises | 480 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 23 Apr 2024 |
| The Grill & Fish Bar SN5 8LY | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 480 m (0.3 miles) | 4 Good | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Facechoice Ltd SN5 8LY | Retailers - other | 480 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 1 Jul 2021 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 14 |
| Public order | 5 |
| Burglary | 4 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 4 |
| Drugs | 3 |
| Other theft | 2 |
| Vehicle crime | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Lineacre Close (8); On or near Clinton Close (7); On or near Volpe Close (6); On or near Lumley Close (4); On or near Bess Road (3).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 14% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 89% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 48% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 0% | 1% |
| Social rented | under 1% | 17% |
| Private rented | 10% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 60% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 2% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 27% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 1% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 41% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 49% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | under 1% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 4% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 4% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 78% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 16% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 33% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 14% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 7% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 91% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 9 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
Nothing new since the change feed started on 30 October 2026. New sales and energy certificates, and hygiene ratings, school inspections and flood figures nearby, will be listed here as the sources update.
Postcodes on this street
Nearby streets
Audley Close · Hillyard Close · Volpe Close · Sidney Close · Lineacre Close · Heytsbury Gardens · King Henry Drive · Loughborough Close · Clinton Close · Ferrers Drive · Lumley Close · Sheen Close
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.