Gompels submits detailed plans for new warehouse

Gompels has taken another step towards building its new warehouse in Melksham after submitting a detailed design of the scheme to Wiltshire Council.

The reserved matters application covers the scale, layout, appearance, landscaping and access for the proposed development on land south of the A365 Bath Road and west of Turnpike Garage.

It follows outline planning permission being granted earlier this year for the warehouse and office development, which the company says will be a major investment in the town and create hundreds of jobs.

The application includes detailed proposals for the building and its surrounding landscaping. It is currently open for consultation, with comments due by 4th December.

The detailed plans propose a 20,500 square metre, 16-metre-high warehouse with integrated offices, accessed via a new T-junction on the A365 Bath Road.

More than 6,000 trees, shrubs and hedgerow plants are proposed while earth bunds and a four-metre acoustic barrier will help screen the development.

The company says the development will help secure the future of its existing operation in Bowerhill, where it now employs 100 people, while providing capacity for further growth.

Sam Gompels said, “Jobs for the town are going to be in short supply when you look at how many houses are being built. This facility signals that Melksham is open for business and that people are willing to invest in the town.

“There are hundreds of new jobs being created between the new site and the current Gompels site on Bowerhill. We look forward to getting started in the spring/summer of ’27 and expect to have it built within about 12 months.

“There are thousands of trees being planted and acres of biodiversity net gain along with ponds and new hedgerows. We have done our best to minimise the impact and look forward to it blending into the lovely Wiltshire landscape before too long.

“The colour scheme is designed to blend into the background and the sky with green at the bottom and tones of grey further up.”

Gompels says the development is expected to support up to 384 temporary jobs on site and in the wider economy during the 12-month construction period, with 196 or more permanent jobs once the warehouse is operational.

It adds that the relocation will free up its existing premises at Swift Way, Bowerhill, which are expected to be occupied by a major local employer seeking to expand in Melksham. Across the two sites, around 675 jobs are expected to be supported.

Gompels, which has been based in Melksham since 1967, is the UK’s largest independent care home distributor and a major supplier to children’s nurseries.

The company has also submitted a separate application for a flood attenuation pond to the east of the site. The company says this is part of the overall development, explaining that space within the original site boundary had become restricted and it wanted to prioritise space for trees and screening rather than ponds.

The reserved matters application, reference PL/2026/07000, can be viewed on the Wiltshire Council website. The original planning application reference is PL/2024/11426.