Revised plans for redevelopment of The Bear Hotel Chippenham

Last November a proposal was launched to convert the upper floors of The Bear Hotel, which has stood in Chippenham Market Place since the 18th century, into apartments.

This would see the creation of five flats and a maisonette alongside the conversion and extension of the former garage into self-contained offices.

The initial design for this “contemporary” office space sparked some concerns from Chippenham Town Council, which labelled it “heavy and dominant”.

READ MORE: The Bear Hotel transformation plans in Chippenham debated

The proposed extension (Image: Armstrong Architecture)

Armstrong Architecture, the agent working on behalf of applicant London & Wiltshire Ltd, has since lodged revised designs for this extension.

The new CGIs of the proposed development appear to show a modern office with glazed windows and shrubbery on the roof.

At a town council planning meeting, councillors did not object to the revised plans and praised the scheme for bringing the building back into use.

While the ground floor is currently a tapas bar, that would be unaffected by the redevelopment, the upper floors have been vacant since the hotel closed several years ago.

Cllr Matthew Short said: “I support it, I know a lot of people have lots of memories of it (The Bear), but I think the reuse of it as flats is very welcome.”