THE Chinese Government is planning to buy the famous Renault building in Swindon. A 30-strong delegation will arrive in Swindon from Beijing on Monday.

If a deal is struck, the Swindon site, which featured in the James Bond movie A View To A Kill, starring Roger Moore, will provide the Chinese Communist rulers with a foothold in Europe.

"This is a fantastic opportunity not only for Swindon, but for the UK and Europe," said James Lockhart, the agent for the building that opened in 1983 to acclaim for its futuristic architecture.

"I can confirm that the Chinese are seriously interested and this has to be the most wonderful opportunity that has ever come Swindon's way."

The Chinese Govern-ment has been searching Europe for a number of years for an ideal location at which to establish an outpost.

The idea is for the Chinese to develop a European industrial base in West Swindon to which their homeland companies could set up satellite trading companies.

If they buy, a planning application is expected to be submitted to Swindon Council for a change of use to the complex.

Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) believed the Chinese interest was proof of Swindon's international economic credibility.

He said: "This project, if it goes through, will amount to a Chinese front window in Europe.

"Of course I'm keeping my fingers crossed and I can't become officially involved until a planning application is received.

"However, such a move would be a fantastic boost for projecting Swindon as one of Europe's most viable centres in which to invest."

The delegation, which will include a Chinese TV film-maker recording the historic negotiations, will be entertained to lunch by Mayor Derek Benfield at the Civic Centre before they are taken on a conducted tour of the town.

"The Chinese negotiators are a pleasure to do business with," added Mr Lockhart, of letting agents Whitmarsh, Preece Lockhart. "They are extremely honourable, but are also very coy and don't like doing their negotiating in the public eye.

"We have reached a very sensitive stage and the last thing I want is for them to be scared off.

"We have spent at least 12 months renovating the premises in preparation for a sale. That is the usual length of time for a property this size. We are bang on target and are very proud of what we have to sell."

No figure for the sale has been made public at the moment.

Coun Benfield said that he was excited about the visit but could not elaborate.

And Chris Worthington, head of the council's Economic Development Department, could manage only a tight-lipped: "No comment."

The Renault centre was designed by the internationally renowned architect Sir Norman Foster and won the Financial Times Architecture at Work Award.

It was opened by Mme Catherine Lalumiere, the French Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs.

However, the Grade 11 Listed building, covering 226,000 sq ft, has been empty since the French car company transferred its distribution plant to the East Midlands in November 2001.

In its heyday, 300 people were employed at the centre, which was renamed the Spectrum Building after being bought by Green Property and undergoing a £1.5 refurbishment. It was later taken over by the Burford Group.