Emery Gate Chippenham plans could give High Street 'future'

Acorn Property Group is currently working on plans to redevelop Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham, after launching a consultation to help shape the proposals.

Project manager Caroline Wall told this paper the town centre site has been struggling to attract pre-pandemic levels of shoppers, prompting the overhaul.

These plans were given an extra push by Tesco’s decision to close its Emery Gate superstore, leaving the centre’s largest unit vacant from August.

Mrs Wall said: “The biggest reason is declining footfall and that’s shown by Tesco leaving, it’s the most recent casualty.

“Emery Gate has been along the lines of national trends, it’s not worse and we do have a lot of people coming here.

“But whatever we do we can’t make it better, footfall nationally has never recovered to 2019 levels, it’s getting worse and worse.”

READ MORE: Emery Gate Chippenham redevelopment designs revealed

Initial designs for the redevelopment of Emery Gate (Image: Acorn Property Group)

The initial proposals for Emery Gate include the addition of more “food, beverage and leisure” options, as well as the creation of town centre homes.

Mrs Wall believes these additions would give the High Street a “future” by making the area a more “exciting” place to come.

She added: “We’re not planning to reduce the commercial space, other than the Tesco area, we want to reinvigorate it.

“At the moment the retail space isn’t efficient, and people aren’t happy with the offering, we want to offer something exciting that will draw people in.

“We want to make it a High Street with a future, because at the moment it really isn’t, and make Chippenham a better, more people friendly town.”

Concerns have been raised by residents and councillors about the impact of additional homes on traffic and parking.

Mrs Wall emphasised Acorn would work with stakeholders to ensure the development was “appropriate”.

SEE ALSO: Traffic fears over Emery Gate Chippenham redevelopment

Initial designs for the Emery Gate redevelopment (Image: Acorn Property Group)

This includes working in conjunction with wider schemes to regenerate the area, including the Chippenham One Plan and River Avon Project.

Mrs Wall suggested this could see terraces and hospitality fronting onto the River Avon and Island Park, alongside increased pedestrian routes and cycling provision.

She said: “The back of Emery Gate is very unattractive and unappealing, we want to reverse that and potentially bring terraces, cafes and food venues to that side of the park.

“It will turn it around and make the place more attractive to come to.”