Business · Chippenham
Chippenham bank redevelopment appeal lodged after planning refusal
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Developers are challenging Wiltshire Council's decision to block the conversion of a former HSBC bank in Chippenham Market Place into residential flats.
A property developer has lodged an appeal against Wiltshire Council’s decision to refuse plans for the conversion of a former bank into residential flats in Chippenham town centre. The site, which previously housed an HSBC branch, has been vacant since the bank closed in August 2023 due to a significant decline in customer footfall.
MP2 Developments Ltd had previously secured permission for residential use on the upper floors of the building. However, the developer encountered opposition regarding the ground floor, after their proposal to create three additional flats in the former banking hall was rejected by the council in mid-September.
In its refusal, Wiltshire Council described the change of use as incongruous with the character of the street scene. The local authority further argued that the proposal would result in the loss of a key commercial premises and maintained that the applicant had failed to provide sufficient evidence that a continued business use for the site was no longer viable.
The developers formalised their appeal on October 30. In their submission, they contest both of the council’s primary concerns. They argue that the building differs from traditional retail units in the area because it lacks a standard shopfront appearance, meaning its conversion would not cause unacceptable harm to the conservation area. Furthermore, the firm asserts that there is no formal requirement to prove that commercial use is unviable, noting that the property has remained empty for over three years.
The application has drawn criticism from local stakeholders who are concerned about the long-term health of the town centre. Chippenham Town Council previously objected to the plans, warning that the loss of the site could set a dangerous precedent and diminish the economic vitality of the Market Place.
The town council pointed to successful redevelopments in neighbouring towns as evidence that old bank buildings can remain part of the commercial core. They cited the conversion of former Lloyds banks in Corsham and Malmesbury into a brasserie and a restaurant respectively, as well as the transformation of a former Barclays site in Westbury into a banking hub.
Wiltshire Councillor Liz Alstrom, representing the Chippenham Hardens and Central Ward, also opposed the scheme during the initial planning process. She argued that the town’s economic success relies on retaining an active commercial core and warned against the loss of premises that contribute to the social and economic function of the High Street.
Source: Wiltshire Times — Chippenham · View original