Introduction from Adam Nardell, Vision Director, Trowbridge Vision.
To receive presentations as follows:
i. Angus Horner, Managing Director of Prorsus – the developer of the Bowyers site in Trowbridge.
ii. Proposals for the expansion of the ASDA store in Trowbridge.
iii. L&G development proposals for St Stephen’s Place.
Minutes:
Adam Nardell, Vision Director of Trowbridge Vision, introduced the following presenters, who would each be outlining their various development proposals for sites within Trowbridge:
i. Proposals for the expansion of the ASDA store in Trowbridge
Ross Bowen, the Planning Consultant working on behalf of ASDA, outlined ASDA’s plans to extend the current store in Trowbridge. The current store was limited in terms of floor space, which meant that the store was unable to stock a full range of lines and compete effectively with out of town developments.
Options to extend the store had been examined extensively, and a side extension towards the river was considered to be the only viable option available. It was proposed that the riverside would be improved by the extension, which would replace the current, dated facade, and a pedestrian walkway would help to improve the river corridor.
Following the presentation, the following comments and issues arose:
· It was not possible to create a mezzanine floor within the existing store as there was not sufficient roof height and there were issues with the load-bearing capacity of a mezzanine floor.
· It was acknowledged that the car park was not ideal and concerns would be passed back to ASDA, however the car park was not owned or managed by ASDA.
· There was some concern that the extension of the store would encroach on the river corridor. The plans proposed by ASDA sought to improve the riverside both in terms of access and visually.
· All other options had been fully considered and were not viable. This would have to be justified in the planning application.
· It was acknowledged that this proposal had some conflicts with the Supplementary Planning Document for the area, but ASDA was keen to reduce any negative impact by reducing the height and width of the extension.
ii. L&G development proposals for St Stephen’s Place
Tim Russell and Simon Russian of Legal & General outlined the development proposals for St Stephen’s Place in Trowbridge. The proposal was to create an eight-screen cinema, and 80-bed hotel and six restaurants on the site.
Following the presentation, the following comments and issues arose:
· Legal and General already had a legal interest in the multi-storey car park and it was hoped to integrate this with the proposals for the site.
· The site was purchased in June 2010, and there has been an ongoing dialogue with Wiltshire Council regarding the options ever since.
· This proposal was based on deliverability and it was scheduled to open autumn 2013 subject to planning permission being granted.
· There were concerns regarding insufficient car parking spaces to cope with the scale of the development. The developer had consulted with the occupiers on this matter and was confident that the car parking provision would be sufficient.
iii. Proposals from Prorsus for the Bowyers site in Trowbridge
Angus Horner, Managing Director of Prorsus, outlined development proposals for the Bowyers site in Trowbridge. The proposal was to reinvigorate this site and open up access to the River Biss as a leisure development.
It was proposed that the development would consist of a Morrison’s food store and petrol filling station, a multiplex cinema, coffee shops, a riverside walk, a family pub, a civic square and at least six restaurants.
Following the presentation, the following comments and issues arose:
· It was intended that the site would have 500 car parking spaces which would be free of charge.
· The development would create around 400 jobs, providing a mix of opportunities and a range of career development options.
· There was concern about the current state of the River Biss, particularly with regards to litter. The developer proposed to clean-up the river and the surrounding area as part of its proposals, in order to make it more attractive.
· Further information was available on the website www.innoxriverside.com
The Chairman thanked all of the presenters for their contributions and assured people that there would be further opportunities to comment when the planning applications were submitted.