DEVELOPERS will be looking at the Melksham town centre site of Cooper Tires, as land owned by the company has now come up for sale, with the first round of bids due in January. The site is a key element in the town’s joint Neighbourhood Plan, which is currently open for consultation.
In the plan it says any development of the land, “will breathe new life into the historic factory site to create a new riverside quarter that will deliver new modern employment space, opportunities for riverside cultural and leisure uses, as well as new homes, including affordable homes, to meet local housing needs.”
The land available is in two parts, either side of the River Avon, which cuts through the town.
Two sites
The Cooper Tires factory site, which is closing next month, comprises 30 acres of brownfield land west of the River Avon. This includes a Grade II listed building, Avon House, which has undergone a heritage report.
Opposite, on the east side of the river, 38.5 acres of greenfield land is available which runs along the river Avon and either side of Murray Walk, and borders Forest Road, River Mead School and King George V park (see map on page 12).
Local leaders have said that the former factory site provides a prime opportunity to re-shape Melksham’s future in a key part of the town. Suggestions have included providing an attractive riverside development of housing, leisure activities, employment space, retail and green spaces.
The sale is being managed by real estate company, Cushman and Wakefield, who say that the development is an opportunity for a buyer to deliver a mixed-use scheme of housing and commercial space. They say the landowner’s preference is to sell the site unconditionally as a whole, but they will consider selling separate parts.
An indicative masterplan, prepared by Chapman Taylor Architects, shows the former factory brownfield site is capable of 495 dwellings and 87,500 square ft of commercial space, with 128 possible residential dwellings on the greenfield site.
But the greenfield site is not allocated for housing in either the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan or the Wiltshire Council Local Plan.
Ideas
At a consultation for the Neighbourhood Plan, held earlier this year, people shared their ideas for how they would like to see the site developed, with many calling for a mix of leisure activities and flats.
“When the Avon site closes, it would be nice to see that developed for mixed use and include flats, shops and a bowling alley, with things for the younger generation to do,” said one resident.
Speaking to the Melksham News, deputy mayor Tom Price said “Although it is always sad to see industry leave the town and I understand fully the impact this has, as I myself am being made redundant due the Avon closing down, I am however excited to see and hopeful that the site will become a mixed use area with homes, shops and leisure use for the whole town to enjoy, with the heritage of the site kept at the forefront of any development”
Melksham Town cllr, Jon Hubbard, also suggested a museum to form part of the site, to preserve some of the company’s industrial history for future generations.
Cooper Tires announced last year that it would be closing its site in December, after being a key part of Melksham’s workforce and history for 132 years.
The first round of bids will be due by 12pm on 19th January and the objective of the landowners is to select a preferred purchaser by the end of February next year.
The masterplan also says the majority of the site is a flood zone and a report is provided to potential purchasers of likely constraints associated with flooding and drainage, and guidance on the scope of work that may be needed to address these issues.
