Local News · Calne
Demolition starts at former Calne Co-op as care home plans face scrutiny
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Work has begun to pull down the derelict former Co-op supermarket on Mill Street in Calne, while developers await a decision on plans for a new 60-bed care home.
Demolition is now well underway at the site of the former Co-op supermarket on Mill Street in Calne, marking the latest chapter for the prominent town centre plot that has stood vacant since 2020. Construction crews were seen actively clearing the site on Thursday, October 29, following months of inactivity after the area was first fenced off earlier this spring.
Large sections of the building, which once served as a major shopping destination for the town, have already been brought down. The demolition process follows a warning issued to the public earlier in the year that the car park would be permanently closed to all traffic from March 31.
The future of the site remains subject to a live planning application submitted by Cedar Care Homes Ltd. The company, which operates across Wiltshire, Bristol and Bath, has proposed replacing the defunct store with a 60-bed care facility. According to the planning documents, the new building would span four levels, incorporating a basement and space for three retail, service or café units on the ground floor facing onto Mill Street.
The project has drawn a mixed response from the community and local authorities. While Calne Town Council and some residents have expressed support for the development, describing the facility as a much-needed local resource, the proposal has faced significant opposition from statutory bodies and council planners.
Historic England has urged Wiltshire Council to reject the current design, arguing that it fails to adequately reflect the character of the surrounding conservation area. Similar reservations have been raised by Wiltshire Council’s own urban design team, which noted that significant concerns remain regarding the architectural quality of the proposed elevations.
Developers have defended the scheme, stating that the project was shaped by consultation with local residents and pre-application meetings with the council. They have pledged to use limestone in the building's construction to better complement local architecture and intend to provide substantial landscaping and private garden areas. A final decision on the application currently rests with Wiltshire Council.
Source: Gazette & Herald — Chippenham · View original