The land next to the River Avon, formerly part of the Cooper Tires site, has been sold. However, the sale of the factory site, which is classified as brownfield land, is still in progress.
The Cooper Tires factory site closed in December 2023, after being a key part of Melksham’s workforce and history for 132 years.
The site comprises two areas: 30 acres of brownfield land that housed the factory building, west of the River Avon, and the recently sold 38.5 acres of greenfield land that runs on the opposite side of the river, from King George V Park to the outskirts of Melksham.
Last year, the agents at Cushman & Wakefield opened the sale of the site and invited buyers to bid on the land.
A local community group, Melksham Green Space, put in an ambitious bid to purchase 28.5 acres of land to save the space for the town, with the aim of creating a sustainable habitat for wildlife, a recreational area for the local community and boosting biodiversity.
However, despite having the funds ready, the group was ‘massively disappointed’ to learn in April last year that their bid was unsuccessful.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited confirmed the sale, saying in a statement, “The Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Limited today (Friday December 20, 2024) announced the sale of its 38.5 acres of greenfield land in Melksham, Wiltshire. The land, situated on the opposite side of the River Avon to the former Cooper Tires factory was part of two sites owned by Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe in Melksham, the other being 30 acres of brownfield land that housed the former tyre factory. The sale process of the brownfield site is still ongoing.”
The greenfield site was not allocated for housing in either the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan or the Wiltshire Council Local Plan.
When the sale of the site was opened, Cushman & Wakefield said the landowner’s preference was to sell the site unconditionally as a whole, but they would consider selling separate parts.
Details of who has purchased the land have yet to be released.
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