Sunday 12 October 2008
Redevelopment of Calne Town Centre

Redevelopment of Calne Town Centre

The New Heart of Calne

Latest Update:  1st October 2008

The first phase of work to create a new 'Heart of Calne' has been completed with the demolition of part of the old Phelps Parade.

The site of a former shop and housing has now been knocked down and the site cleared ready for construction to begin later this month.

Wooden hoardings mean the building work is separated from the shopping areas. The hoardings show the work that will take place during the building phase.

Phelps Parade remains open during the work and the construction and refurbisment is expected to be complete by Autumn 2009.


A view of the area that has been cleared for construction
The area cleared for construction


This area will be the site of the new Woolworths
This area will be the site of the new Woolworths


Careful demolition has taken place around Phelps Parade
Careful demolition has taken place around Phelps Parade


Phelps Parade remains open during the work
Phelps Parade remains open during the work


Timeline for work at Phelps Parade
Timeline:
Summer 2008 Demolition of exisitng buildings
Autumn 2008 Construction of new buildings begins
Spring 2009 Refurbishment of Phelps Parade
Autumn 2009 Construction and refurbisment complete


A view from the public square next to the Zion Chapel
A view from the public square next to the Zion Chapel

North Wiltshire District Council and Westlea Housing are working in partnership on the redevelopment of Phelps Parade. When complete, this redevelopment will revitalise the town centre and provide a new Woolworths store, further shops and new homes.

Westlea, as the developer, has already obtained planning permission for the scheme which has been designed by its in-house architect’s team.

The work involves the demolition of part of the existing Phelps Parade that faces The Pippin, and its replacement with two new shops, the larger a Woolworths store, and another smaller unit. Above the shops will be 16 new affordable homes. The former residents of Westlea's existing maisonettes affected by the development have now all moved to new homes. The District Council will be making other improvements to Phelps Parade which is  likely to include new paving, landscaping and the replacement of shop canopies.

Proposals are being drawn up for the second and third part of the project, this includes the refurbishment of the existing Phelps Parade and the new Square, and discussions are taking place with the developer of the fourth part- the construction of additional shops and homes.

A view looking down at the Zion chapel
A view looking down at the Zion chapel

What the scheme involves

North Wiltshire District Council and its partners are proposing the redevelopment of Phelps Parade and adjacent land providing the opportunity to bring forward a high quality mixed use scheme fronting The Pippin.

The plans are phase 3 of the redevelopment of Calne and will revitalise the town centre with a new Woolworth store, further shops, new homes, and a Public Square.

A view looking at the new building from outside the Sainsbury's store
A view looking at the new building from outside the Sainsbury's store

Calne Town Centre has been redeveloped in a number of phases since the demolition of the Harris meat processing factory in the mid 1980’s. The preliminary steps were the construction of the Wharf housing scheme completed in 1991 and Bank site housing (Carnegie Mews) in 1996.  The first stage of the town centre redevelopment was completed with the opening of Sainsbury’s in 1999. This was followed by the building of the library, shops and housing, river and highway alterations, which were completed in 2002.

The proposed scheme involves the existing Phelps Parade and land facing The Pippin opposite Sainsbury’s, and includes:
  • The demolition of the part of Phelps Parade facing The Pippin, and its replacement with two new shops, the larger a Woolworths store, and the smaller yet to be decided. Above the shops will be 16 new affordable homes, provided by Westlea Housing Association, the developing organisation.
  • Improvements to the external areas of Phelps Parade. These proposals are not finalised yet, but are likely to include new paving, landscaping and the replacement of shop canopies.
  • A new Public Square adjacent to the new development, surrounding the Zion Chapel. It is expected that the Friday market will be relocated there. This proposal is in response to requests from the town council and other organisations for a public space to house community events and activities.
Further development by a private developer, which will include shops and homes adjacent to the proposed square and land from the rear of Lloyds TSB Bank to the site of Trotman’s hardware store.

Click here to download the New Heart of Calne Leaflet (PDF 592kb)

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Previous views of work on the site -


A view of the hoardings around Phelps Parade
Hoardings around Phelps Parade


The part of Phelps Parade to be demolished
The area to be demolished


A view from the Sainsbury's directection of current work
A view from the Sainsbury's direction