A contractor has been appointed to design and build 60 affordable apartments for older people on the site of the Melksham’s former library building in Lowbourne.
Subject to planning permission, Wiltshire Council says the new site will provide 60 high quality one and two-bedroom self-contained apartments which will be built by E G Carter and Co Ltd and operated by Wiltshire Council.
The accommodation will be accessible in design with level access and care staff onsite to support residents’ care needs.
The old library building was demolished last year and had been empty since the library became part of Melksham Community Campus in the summer of 2022.
Two other buildings on the site – one adjacent (previously used as a Chinese restaurant) and a former education centre have also been demolished.
Wiltshire Council says the site location is a prominent area in the heart of Melksham making it ideal for older people who live there to access local shops, restaurants and cafes.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Council said, “E G Carter and Co were awarded the contract on their experience in this type of development following a competitive procurement process.
“They have been appointed at an early design stage to coordinate the design up to the submission of planning permission, and then to build the development if planning permission is granted.”
Manager director at E G Carter and Co, Sam Carter, said, “We are delighted to have been appointed on this exciting project and are really looking forward to working with Wiltshire Council, Kendall Kingscott and the wider stakeholders and design team members. This project provides an opportunity to work dynamically and collaboratively among organisations all striving for the best product, which is to provide the best quality affordable apartments for the community within Melksham.”
Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for housing, said, “This site is in the heart of Melksham and has huge potential as affordable homes for older people. The development would provide 60 high quality one and two-bedroom self-contained apartments operated by Wiltshire Council, with care staff on site and amenities nearby.
“This development shows our commitment to providing the housing people need within communities as part of our ambition to deliver 1,000 new affordable homes. We’ve already delivered 173 affordable homes, with 40 in development and another 533 in the pipeline as part of our council house build programme which will see millions invested in building new, energy and cost-efficient council homes. We are also making a substantial investment to improve existing council homes to ensure they achieve a minimum energy performance rating of B.
“We have a strong track record of delivering affordable homes and had already delivered 200 affordable homes in the five years prior to setting our ambition for an additional 1,000 affordable homes.”
Pictured: The Library site
