Current projects

Salisbury Guildhall

Background

The eighteenth century Guildhall is an important historic building within the city of Salisbury. Part of the building is leased to the magistrates who are due to vacate the building within the next three years. This will have a significant detrimental effect on the Guildhall’s income and the identification of alternative uses are seen as a priority. The Guildhall is a Grade II* listed building and is located within a designated Conservation Area.

Vision objective

Establish the Guildhall as the civic base of a new Salisbury City Council and as the focus for other complementary uses

Vision proposals

Following the departure of the Magistrates Courts to their new location convert the Guildhall into a civic base for the proposed Salisbury City Council.

Any proposals should have due regard to the Listed status, architectural integrity and historic context of the building.

Investigate and develop other appropriate and complementary uses such as a venue for conferences and meetings.

Work so far

A condition survey was completed in April 2008. This has identified a range of remedial work that needs to be carried out over the next 10 years.

A study has been carried out on the work needed to convert the Guildhall into a civic base for the future Salisbury City Council. The decision confirming formal transfer of the Guildhall to the City Council from 1st April 2009 and the budget needed to make it fit for purpose is awaited. Once this decision has been made the work to get the Guildhall ready for the City Council to move in late 2010 can begin.

Churchfields Industrial Estate

Background

At 33 hectares, the Churchfields Industrial Estate is the largest employment site in south Wiltshire. It is home to 165 companies employing around 4,500 people and together they have a combined annual turnover of £600 million. The estate is located within 1km of Salisbury city centre and it has developed over the past 30 years into one of the most important employment sites in the county.

The location of the estate is popular with businesses and demand for space is relatively high. Vacancy levels are low. The ad hoc development of the site, albeit within planning policy and guidelines, has, however, led to a number of issues, which over recent years have increasingly been the cause of some concern to Salisbury District Council, the South Wiltshire Economic Partnership (SWEP) and to other representatives of businesses in south Wiltshire.

Access to the estate and to many of the individual businesses, is difficult - particularly for HGVs. The only HGV accessible route to the estate runs through part of the city centre and has a detrimental impact on the city and its inhabitants. There are no public transport routes serving the estate; 73% of employees and visitors to the estate arrive by car and it is estimated that over 560 cars are parked on the estate roads every day.

The redevelopment of the Churchfields Industrial Estate is dependent upon the identification of suitable alternative employment sites. This can only be achieved through the planning process.

Vision objective

Relocate inappropriate businesses (primarily those generating HGV traffic movements) to alternative locations close to the city centre and redevelop the site as residential led mixed use scheme which includes offices and a hotel/conference centre

Vision proposals

Relocate the businesses remaining on Churchfields to the westernmost third of the site and redevelop the remaining two thirds of the site as a residential-led mixed use scheme which includes a hotel/conference centre.

Include a major green public space and water area/s possibly with a kiosk / refreshment provision to serve local demand; this should be a point of architectural focus and increase vitality.

Provide a viewing corridor to the Cathedral and create pedestrian access to Harnham, to the Town Path and to the city centre.

Include an eco-housing and/or an affordable housing development.

Provide at least two green links from the east to the west sides of the River Nadder to contribute towards the environmental and ecological aspirations of the Vision.

The use of grey water recycling, solar power generation, Combined Heat and Power units and other renewable energy sources across at least 60% of buildings within the site should be considered a priority.

Work so far

The Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy preferred option was published for consultation in February 2008. A second stage of consultation is being carried out in September and October 2008, with submission to the Secretary of State scheduled for December 2008.

Questions and answers

The Maltings and central car park

Background

Land at the Maltings is considered crucial to the viability and vitality of Salisbury City Centre. The Maltings shopping area, as it exists today, does not make the best use of its prime city centre location. It relates poorly to the remainder of the main retail area, and offers the visitor a misleading and generally disappointing first impression of Salisbury and a poor shopping experience.

The overall site covers some 5.7 hectares, taking in the existing ground level car park owned by the Council, the two level decked parking and Sainsbury's supermarket, the majority of small retail units including Priory Square and the former C&A building forming a link with Fisherton Street. The final components comprise the public open space and play area immediately north of the Maltings together with the whole of the central channel of the River Avon and the Summerlock Stream and their banks.

Vision objective

Develop a major retail-led mixed use scheme and create a new lively urban square adjacent to the Playhouse, City Hall and relocated library, to greatly enhance Salisbury’s position as a sub-regional shopping and cultural centre

Vision proposals

Include within a redeveloped Maltings and central car park area:

  • An opened up Market Walk creating a strong link between the new development and the Market Place.
  • A high quality landscape setting for the new development with enhancement of the River Avon and Millstream edges.

The establishment of a cultural hub by:

  • Improving or replacing the City Hall.
  • Improving the setting, appearance of and access to the Playhouse.
  • Providing an associated outdoor performance area.
  • Relocating and expanding the library.

Improve and develop Fisherton Mill to add to the development of a cultural focus and identity in this area.

Work so far

Alder King, property consultants, were commissioned to carry out a feasibility study in January 2008. This will be considered by Salisbury District Council and by the Wiltshire Council Implementation Executive in November 2008.

Salisbury Market Place

Background

The Market Place is perhaps the most significant public space outside of The Close. It continues today to be the centre of the city, both for trading and as a meeting place, as it has done for many centuries. It holds a twice-weekly charter market and is increasingly being used for farmers markets, French Street markets and special events including an annual fair. When not in use as a market or for an event half of the site is used for car parking.

Vision objective

Rejuvenate the Market Place (to include the Guildhall Square, Cheese Market and Poultry Cross) and create a public square of the highest quality in terms of design and construction

Vision proposals

A rejuvenated Market Place should include a high quality, coordinated set of elements (street furniture, planting, lighting, signage, public art) which complement the city’s historic character.

Consideration should be given to the requirements of the Charter Market and other markets and their role within the Market Place to ensure their future viability and success.

Make the space more pedestrian oriented through changes in surface treatment and highway design in favour of people, cyclists and buses and remove all car parking from the Market Place and Guildhall Square.

Any existing high quality trees should be respected within any future detailed design because of their importance to the character of the square; introduce planting and other soft landscaping to bring more ‘green’ into the city centre.

Vibrant and creative accent lighting should be provided around the Guildhall, in particular, and in other parts of the square to accentuate the historic buildings around the edges.

A rejuvenated Market Place should include the necessary infrastructure for events such as the Christmas Lights and the Charter Market.

Work so far

46 expressions of interest have been received for the first stage of the international design competition for the renaissance of the Market Place and Guildhall square. Six design teams have been shortlisted to prepare concept drawings and designs to be submitted in December. These will be exhibited in Salisbury as part of a 4 week public consultation in January 2009. The budget for the scheme is £3m, split between the district and county council. More information on the competition can be found under latest news.

Questions and answers

See the Adobe PDFSalisbury Vision: Market Place Q and A 134kb

Contact details:

Telephone:
01722 434677

email:
vision@salisbury.gov.uk

Postal address:
Economic Development,
Salisbury District Council,
3 Rollestone Street,
Salisbury, SP1 1DX