PLANS are in motion to help look at the long term growth of south Wiltshire.

Many of the sites in Salisbury and Amesbury have been handed back after decontamination, but work is continuing at Sergei Skripal’s house in Christie Miller Road and Charlie Rowley’s address in Muggleton Road, Amesbury.

Alistair Cunningham, the chairman of the recovery co-ordinating group, said: “We have really reached that point now where we are looking at Zizzi’s and The Mill open for Christmas. We’re looking at planning applications for The Maltings work to come in this side of Christmas and really getting that sense, working with partners, we can start on that long term growth of south Wiltshire rather than the short term recovery work we have been doing to-date.”

Mr Cunningham said the “revamped” plans for The Maltings, which had been more retail led, would bring forward the cultural quarter and the redevelopment of the Market Walk as early parts of the programme, which would “cement that cultural, heritage, leisure offer in the city”.

He added: “It is something that really shows that confidence of the developers, and also the support from government aligned with the local partners, can really make a difference. That should help people understand that this city and south Wiltshire will recover and will end up in a better place than it started.”

Council leader Jane Scott said: “I just hope the people of Salisbury are going to support it as one of the catalysts for change in the city, particularly when we look at the areas around the cultural quarter, because I honestly believe the city can’t rely on the high street for the future it has to rely on something that is unique.

“We have already got a fantastic cultural and arts city and of course we have got our heritage here, but actually we need to build on that and make sure people are coming for that. If it delivers that that is very positive.”

Consultants have also been brought in look at the image of Salisbury. Mr Cunningham said: “It is not really rebranding, it is about ensuring that the brand that is associated with the city is around the cathedral, the water meadows, cultural heritage, quintessential English medieval city not the pictures that have been going globally around, people in hazmat suits, yellow tape.

“We don’t want that stain to be associated with the city in the future.”