The proposed redevelopment of Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham has moved a step closer to being carried out.
Acorn Property Group, the owner of the centre, has received notice that it does not need to carry out an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Wiltshire Council issued its EIA screening opinion which informed Acorn Property of this on Thursday, August 29.
This stage is typical for any large development and paves the way for the formal planning application process.
READ MORE: Emery Gate Chippenham residential redevelopment ‘supported’
Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham. (Image: Newsquest)
Emery Gate’s potential regeneration scheme involves the creation of new town centre homes alongside an overhaul of the current commercial offering.
Addressing Chippenham Town Council in June, the developers said: “This is a catalyst for positive change and a once in a lifetime opportunity to revitalise and rejuvenate this town centre location, opening it up to the River Avon and delivering a development that is fit for the future.
“Our plans for Emery Gate will be the biggest economic investment in Chippenham in decades, providing reimagined commercial spaces to service the day and evening economy and new low carbon homes to make town centre living a reality.”
SEE ALSO: Next phase of Chippenham housing scheme in question
In other planning news, a Buddhist Temple and meditation centre in Bradford on Avon could be converted into a home, should Wiltshire Council approve a recent planning application.
The site is located at 24 Bridge Street and has been used as a temple for around a decade.
Its conversion into a residential home was approved in theory through prior proposals, but this latest request varies the layout of what was previously suggested, adding a rear extension and detailing a loft conversion.
The application states: “The key aspirations are to sensitively repurpose the building, enhancing the historical asset where possible and securing its long-term future by the creation of a single family dwelling.
“The proposals achieve this within the existing volume by careful spatial reconfiguration but with no significant modification to the original building and fabric.
“Overall, the proposals seek to remove poor quality historical additions and help create a unique character property whilst protecting and enhancing the heritage asset and its setting.”
Over in Calne, Wiltshire Council is set to consider an application for signage outside a new banking hub.
The hub will replace the former laundrette on The Strand and will allow customers of any bank to withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and banking transactions.
LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, confirmed that Calne would get a new banking hub at the end of 2023, but the location remained a mystery until June.
The signage itself will be in the same location as the previous laundrette branding and will be typical of other banking hub advertisements.
In the village of Great Cheverell, south of Devizes, a group of residents have nominated a pub to become an asset of community value.
They describe The Bell Inn as the hub of their community and note that it is critical through its operation of the village shop.
Although it has “thrived” in recent years, the group is seeking to protect it so that “if fortunes were to change the venue would not be lost to residential housing like many other public houses”.
Finally, down in the village of Wylye, solar panels could be installed on the roof of St Mary’s Church.
The two rows of panels would be installed on the south facing aspect roof over the north aisle.
According to the application, the solar panels would not be visible from ground level, and therefore would have no impact on any “architectural, historical, artistic or archaeological features of the church”.
The consultation is open until the end of September and Wiltshire Council is expected to make a decision by Tuesday, October 22.
