THE future of the former Co-Op site in Mill Street, Calne has taken an unexpected turn with the news that a care home company is in talks to buy the former Co-Op building
In November last year, we reported on the collapse of Hawkfield Homes' parent company Land Promotions Ltd - however, developers said it would not affect their plans and the company who owned the site was still 'very much trading'.
At the time, Hawkfield Homes Board Director Vinh Nguyen, told us that he felt Wiltshire Council had sent his company to the brink of collapse by continuously blocking any progress with their planning application.
The site in Mill Street has been empty since April 2020 and has been an area for concern for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Hawkfield Homes Ltd first looked at the site in October 2021 and commissioned a design team. Their plans for the development included 26 apartments, townhouses and a commercial unit.
In December 2023, Calne News reported on accusations from Hawkfield Homes that Wiltshire Council were purposefully blocking their application.
Mr Nguyen told us they had been 'going round in circles' with a continuous stream of revisions, objections and the added hurdle of what he considers a 'serious staffing issue at Wiltshire Council' leading to numerous changes of Urban Design Officers dealing with the application. All the while, they continued to pay empty property rates for the site at £6,000 per month.
At the time, Mr Nguyen commented: "Wiltshire Council have spent the last 19 months, avoiding any form of face-to-face meeting with any of their relevant officers, hiding behind keyboards and blaming lack of progress due to colleagues leaving the organisation. This planning application has thus far been through two case Planning Officers, three Urban Design Officers and two Conservation Area officers."
In response to these claims Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “As the local planning authority, we recognise the importance of this site for Calne residents. The application has received significant objection from stakeholders and we have been working with the applicant to resolve these. We intend to continue working constructively with the applicant to bring this application to a conclusion in a timely manner.”
Shortly after this article was published, Mr Nguyen cut all ties with Calne News, stating that he and Wiltshire Council would be working together to bring the project to fruitition and he would make no further comments to either Calne News or Calne Town Council.
Now the site is in the process of being sold to new developers. The new buyers are believed to be a care home company and the sale is due to be completed within the next few weeks.
No plans are currently available to view for the care home development and whether another care home would get planning permission is yet to be considered. Calne already has Marden Court, Kingston Care Home and The Firs amongst others. The site is also close to Orchard Lodge - Churchill Retirement Living flats.
The imminent sale of the site will also cause chaos in the coming weeks as the parking area will be fenced off and unavailable to those who have been reliant on it for unrestricted parking.
Cllr Michael Hudston has expressed his concern saying: "As part of a requirement of the sale of the site, it is required to be what is called, 'in a state of vacant possession'. This will mean that the remaining open parts of the site will soon be fenced off including the carpark to the north side of the River Marden at the bottom of the Pippin.
"The upshot of this is that those who have taken advantage of the unrestricted free parking within the town centre, will now have to make alternative arrangements. This is also likely to significantly impact parking for residents in the surrounding streets. The fencing could start being erected within a matter of days and noticed places on cars."
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