Maltings plan to go to Cabinet

8:53am Wednesday 6th February 2013 in News By Elizabeth Kemble

THE Maltings and Central Car Park redevelopment will be discussed in Salisbury at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Wiltshire Council is expected to enter into a development agreement with Stanhope Plc for the regeneration of the site.

In December hundreds of people attended an exhibition held by Stanhope at the Guildhall to have a look at early plans for phase one of the multi-million pound redevelopment.

The plans are for an ‘anchor’ store on the car park site, along with further retail and leisure outlets, including restaurants, as well as car parking.

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, said: “This would be a significant move forward in the regeneration of this site. If agreed, it will allow Stanhope Plc to continue to consult with the community and find out what the city’s residents, visitors and businesses want and need.

“Salisbury is a beautiful city, and we want to ensure it maintains its unique identity while being able to compete with other nearby retail centres.”

In a list of considerations for councillors to consider, an officer’s report states: “In the absence of a development on this site, the alternative of ‘do nothing’ will mean that the economic vitality of the city centre will diminish.

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“There are already retail developments taking place in, or planned for, Winchester and Southampton, which will increase those cities’ attraction to shoppers.

“This could lead to the existing city centre shops losing trade and deter new operators from investing in the city.”

The report adds: “If this site does not come forward, not only would the city centre lose significant amount of trade, it is anticipated that there would be a substantial negative impact on the amount of revenue the council receives from the city’s car parks and park and ride service.”

The Cabinet meeting is being held at the Guildhall at 10.30am.

Comments(10)

UKD003 says...
9:07am Wed 6 Feb 13

From what I heard, M&S is in the plan to move here, as well as moving the cinema. This would leave holes around the "ghost of George Mall", so not sure if it's a good thing.

The key issue to being a success is the quality of the shoppes. I'm not convinced that there is enough disposable income around the city to support more restaurants. We already have enough "chain or voucher based" restaurants, here too, quality is the issue.

I really hope there is something new and refreshing in the plan, rather than just rearranging the footprint and fabric of the city.

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rantone says...
2:56pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Well this is news for the city-goodbye Sainsbury's ,now move the cinema and the M&S store. Is this progress? We have been down the 'cinema' debate before and developing this site WOULD give planners and WC a headache! There have been opportunities in the past for small additions to M&S adjacent to where they are now - but nothing happened. There is an excellent car park in the Old George Mall, with bus stops at the front, why move to a new site with restricted parking and little access for transport which serves the whole area. The vacant M&S could be suitable for other retail chains - Primark only go to University towns - so perhaps Mothercare would return or a larger Next on one site. All possible, but M&S should really consider a way to enlarge the Food Hall and improve the customer flow, but remain in the city centre!

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SaveTheCarParks says...
10:13pm Wed 6 Feb 13

Don't believe a word these council crackpots tell you.

The funding of the whole Salisbury Vision scam relies on selling off assets - see vision website...

"The majority of any funding provided by the local authority would come from capital receipts arising out of the six development projects in which the local authority was a significant land owner, i.e. the Maltings and central car park, Salt Lane and Brown Street car parks..."

Put up parking charges.

Close most of the car parks.

Thus anyone wanting to visit salisbury will have to use the idiotic (and loss making) Park & Ride.

result - no-one will visit, more shops will close, Salisbury will die.

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karlmarx says...
2:33pm Thu 7 Feb 13

I'm in favour of a new retail development at the Maltings. However, if you don't make people welcome or, make it a challenge for them to get there they will go elsewhere.
This is the logic which makes the out of town developments successful at the expense of high street.

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Sustainer says...
4:55pm Thu 7 Feb 13

I believe the Council Members are doing a pretty good job in the face of constant and sometimes vitriolic criticism.
Whether we like it or not shopping habits have changed. This is not just because of car park charges, park and ride or supermarkets. My observation is that people shop in a way most convenient to them as individuals. Some still like the smaller City centre shops, some the supermarkets and many many more prefer the internet. KM's comment about making people feel welcome is hugely important and the Maltings layout and visual impact is attempting to address that. I thought the exhibition showed that the planners were very concious of the constructive comments put forward and at the same time,fortunately, they have the wit to ignore the inane rant from those such as SaveTheCarParks which adds noy one iota to the debate.

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rantone says...
8:07pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Perhaps the WC Cabinet members could use the Salisbury Park & Ride, this then freeing car-park spaces in the Central Car Park for the meeting on Tuesday! It is market day. Clarity is now required on the Salt Lane car park site , for which there is concern on any development proposed. The proposals for the Maltings will at a stage in the future be presented to the residents to comment. The whole southern area will then be able to see how transport / trains/buses/car-par
k spaces/pedestrian walks all play into the plan with the new stores and homes. Not wishing to pre-empt but the WC Cabinet will change in May this year, so perhaps it is then for the Cabinet to discuss and agree the future of Salisbury and the links into the city.

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PenfoldLou says...
3:44pm Sat 9 Feb 13

I worked at SDC prior to the dreadful unitary council decision. Nothing has got any better in light of this change. The 'Vision' project has been rumbling for years, I remember minuting meetings and that was five or so years ago. The shame is that so much money is being wasted on 'consultation' for this project and they will probably spend much more time deliberating it and that nothing will happen, all the money could be put to much better use.

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karlmarx says...
4:10pm Sat 9 Feb 13

Well said pen...!
Too many cooks, too long, too late, result?

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PenfoldLou says...
1:20pm Sun 10 Feb 13

I suspect there will not be a result for some time! I can imagine the 'Vision' going on for years with lots of costs but no improvements.

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rantone says...
2:39pm Sun 10 Feb 13

If any readers are interested then do seek out the recent Vision Board minutes of December 13th 2012. This shows costs so far of the projects locally, including the Maltings / Central Car Park and the Market Squares. If you include the 'Churchfields' consultations then the total is close to £1million. Even with a hope that this year will see some progress in the democratic process - costs will still rise leaving less funds to achieve a worthy result.
Well done to Penfoldlou for sharing her thoughts.

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