www.transformingtrowbridge.org.uk

TRANSFORMING TROWBRIDGE INTO A COUNTY TOWN TO BE PROUD OF

Turning a sleepy market town into a vibrant county town is the aim of the Transforming Trowbridge partnership.

Trowbridge is a short drive from Bristol, Bath and Salisbury and provides Wiltshire with its administrative centre, yet it has long under-performed in terms of retail and leisure facilities.

However, a number of key developments are helping to turn the tide and significant improvements will be happening over the next few years.

Setting the scene

The road to regeneration started in 2001, when a number of agencies came together to develop a ‘Vision for Trowbridge’.

This process to revitalise the county town was led by West Wiltshire District Council in partnership with the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Wiltshire County Council and Trowbridge Town Council; also involved were the Chamber of Commerce, Trowbridge 20/20, Trowbridge Town Development Partnership and the Civic Society.

Armed with the newly adopted urban design framework, the Vision for Trowbridge partnership was able to start detailed discussions with key landowners and developers.

In 2005, the steering group was renamed Transforming Trowbridge, to reflect the shift in emphasis from planning to delivery. Membership of the group has remained wide ranging, with representatives from the town, district and county councils, the South West RDA and local business.

Developments coming forward

A number of major developers are progressing schemes for the centre of Trowbridge.

Waterside is a £90 million leisure-based project that is being promoted by the district and county councils on land in their ownership. Modus has been appointed as preferred developer, and a detailed planning application is expected by early 2008.

Modus has already secured pre-lettings with Vue (for an eight screen multiplex cinema), Bowlplex, Premier Travel Inn, Brewers Fayre, Pizza Express, Real China and Frankie & Benny’s. The scheme will also include a new state-of-the-art library and 40,000 sq ft of office accommodation - visit www.watersidetrowbridge.co.uk for more details.

Parkridge Developments Ltd has outline planning permission for a retail led scheme, with 75,000 sq ft of shop units, and has also secured ownership of another town centre site where a planning application is due soon.

And Barton Finch is hoping to secure planning permission for the former Ushers Brewery bottling site, with a scheme that includes a new supermarket and other retail options.

Alongside this, the District Council is working with the South West RDA to pull together a public realm design and implementation plan for the River Biss - this is an underused amenity that runs through the heart of Trowbridge and provides the potential for attractive landscaping and greater access.

Looking to the future

Trowbridge provides a significant opportunity for inward investors, boasting a number of large vacant brownfield sites. With multi-million pound developments due to start by 2009, the town will be transformed into a place for the people of Wiltshire to work, rest and play.

The Transforming Trowbridge partnership has launched its own website, where people can see how the various schemes are developing - www.transformingtrowbridge.org.uk

To find out more, you can also contact regeneration projects manager Adam Nardell on 01225 776655 x148 or email anardell@westwiltshire.gov.uk

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