Community · Calne
Community-led plans to restore historic Heddington pub win approval
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A campaign to save The Ivy at Heddington has reached a significant milestone after Wiltshire Council granted consent for essential building improvements.
A long-running community effort to rescue a 17th-century pub in Wiltshire has taken a major step forward, with planning permission now secured to transform the historic building. The Ivy at Heddington, which has been a focal point for the village, is set to undergo a series of renovations to secure its future as a local venue.
Wiltshire Council granted Listed Building Consent for a comprehensive schedule of works that will allow the site to operate as a modern community hub. The approval follows a period of consultation during which initial heritage concerns regarding the building's historic fabric were addressed through a revised proposal.
Planned improvements include the addition of two single-storey rear extensions to provide a new beer cellar and expanded kitchen facilities. Crucially for accessibility, the project will see the installation of a new ramp and an accessible toilet, features that were not present in the original structure.
The conservation team at the council concluded that while the works would cause some localised impact on the listed building, the benefits to the community—including job creation and the provision of local services—outweigh these concerns. Other improvements include the repair and redecoration of existing windows and the installation of a new log burner to replace an older fireplace.
The site has been a target for local preservation efforts since May 2024, when it was put up for sale by its previous owners, Wadworth. The pub was subsequently designated an Asset of Community Value, and the Friends of the Ivy group secured the lease in February this year. The group's long-term aim is to establish a viable business that also provides a venue for essential community services, helping to combat social isolation in the area.
Richard Ring, acting chairman of the Friends of the Ivy, confirmed that the approval allows the group to progress from planning to physical development. While the project is set to move into a phase of construction, the group is aiming to open the doors of the pub as soon as possible in 2027. Mr Ring expressed his gratitude to the supporters whose fundraising and advocacy were instrumental in reaching this stage of the project.
Source: Gazette & Herald — Chippenham · View original