THE MP for Chippenham Michelle Donelan has led a £5 million bid to rejuvenate Melksham House once more, in the second round of bidding for the Government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund. 

The bid has been submitted to support Wiltshire Council's plans to refurbish Melksham House, which will see the building renovated as a multifunctional hub for the benefit of the local community, while maintaining the building's cultural and historical importance.  

Donelan has worked with local Councillors to secure an agreement with Wiltshire Council that if the Levelling Up Fund bid is successful, the funding already allocated to developing Melksham House will be invested in other areas across Melksham.

Ms Doneland previously run a survey for residents in the town to have their say on where they would like to see this investment spent, and on what services. 

Set alongside the new Melksham Campus, the Melksham House project would "help the area become a centre of activity for the town, driving footfall, business opportunities and further investment to the area". 

In the process of developing the bid, Donelan emphasised that the space should include multi-purpose community space for clubs and activities, and provide office space for flexible working. 

Having been built initially in the 17th Century and opened as a company club and sports centre for Avon Rubber in 1920, Melksham House is a building with significant local history, and Donelan is keen to see this protected in the redevelopment. 

Ms Donelan said: "I’ve always been clear since being elected that I will stand up for the funding our towns deserve at every opportunity, and I’m certainly not undeterred as we submit this £5 million bid for Melksham House for the second round of funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. 

"When Parliament returns from recess next month, I’ll be banging the drum and making the case with the Minister for Melksham House.

"Having been a real hub for the community historically, this bid is a real opportunity to not only transform Melksham House into a community asset, but also release the existing funding allocated to the project to create further investment right across Melksham."

Michelle added: "I’ll certainly be making sure that all of the Ministers in the Department for Levelling Up are familiar with Melksham House by the Autumn, that’s for sure!"