A COMMUNITY group is calling for The Maltings redevelopment plans to consider how the city can be rebuilt with a more eco-friendly approach.

Solar panels, a district heating scheme and energy-efficient housing are three areas Salisbury Community Energy (SCE) want to focus on during the Maltings redevelopment, but the group says such plans have not even been considered, as planning applications begin to form.

Director of SCE Alison Craig said the Maltings redevelopment would be a “huge opportunity” to push Salisbury in the right direction of becoming energy efficient, adding: “As I understand, an eco plan should be submitted with the planning application, and we’d love the Maltings redevelopment to be a part of our objective to drive the uptake of renewable energy in Salisbury and move away from fossil fuels.”

Revealed earlier this month, the revised plans for the Maltings will be focusing on sites most affected by the nerve agent incident, as well as relocating the library and introducing new hotels, shops, restaurants, and a gym and cinema.

Alison said: “The government has huge intentions for the city and we shouldn’t be going backwards with a high-carbon development, it’s a no-brainer.”

Launched in March 2017, SCE is a registered Community Benefit Society with the goal to achieve a renewable energy economy for the city, and sustain a green and healthy environment.

Going forward, SCE has proposed a renewable energy scheme should be part of the Maltings redevelopment plan and the team “welcome a meeting with developers and architects”, Alison added.

Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) will be putting around £6million into the Maltings redevelopment program and director Paddy Brown, believes the updated scheme will “bring more immediate benefit to businesses and residents of Salisbury”.

He added: “The SWLEP contribution is part of a project costing around £70million, made up of contributions from both the public and private sectors.

“The SWLEP will work with the developers to ensure high standards of sustainable building construction.”

Councillor Pauline Church, the cabinet member for economic development and Salisbury recovery, said the development proposals for the Maltings must adhere to the government's renewable energy objectives, adding: "The council is aware of the proposals by SCE that includes a waterwheel at the Maltings which forms part of a wider local energy scheme. Officers have met with a representative of SCE on site to discuss this and have confirmed to SCE that the council is supportive as landowner on the principle of this proposal.

"SCE will need to demonstrate through the normal planning process that the scheme is acceptable when tested against planning and other environmental considerations. It will also need to secure any other third party approvals that may be needed to deliver the proposals.

"It is open for developers to go over and above these but clearly they will only do so if it is economically viable to do so and appropriate in the context of the scheme objectives."