Plans to overhaul a historic building that houses one of Wiltshire’s busiest indoor markets have been revealed.
Devizes Town Council has launched a consultation on plans for the regeneration of The Shambles in the town centre.
The council has been working with PKA Architects for some time to develop proposals for a renovation of the building and this significant project has a budget of up to £1 million.
On Saturday, August 24, the initial plans were unveiled to residents and traders who will now have a chance to have their say.
Town clerk Simon Fisher told this paper The Shambles is suffering from several issues and needs to be revamped for future generations.
READ MORE: The Shambles Devizes renovation plans to go to consultation
He said: “We want to upgrade the building, one of the primary objectives is to make it more sustainable and energy efficient.
“It’s a lovely place but it isn’t environmentally sustainable, it haemorrhages money in terms of heating and lighting… the building has issues that need to be addressed.
“We need to make an investment in the building so it’s still a really vibrant indoor market in 50 years, any change is controversial but it’s about preserving it for the future.”
Residents have been urged to give feedback on the current proposals via ShamblesConsultation24@Devizes-tc.gov.uk.
“This is a big project for the town and at this stage we’re looking at all the things we might be able to do”, said Mr Fisher.
“Some will be great, others some people might not like, and some we may not be able to do.
“We want to hear what people like about the plans, what they don’t like, and what we can change, take out, or enhance before refining them.”
The town council hopes the designs for The Shambles project will encourage business in the market, support community events, be a welcoming space alongside food and beverage offerings, and promote the town as a destination to visit.
It aims to do so through an “exciting development programme” that is designed to “transform The Shambles whilst remaining mindful of its historic past.”
One of the main ideas is to create a more “controlled and ambient” environment with underfloor heating, air source heat pumps, and new lighting being considered.
The initial designs also propose a revamp of the entrance by creating a lobby area with automatic doors, and mezzanine space to provide room for a cafe which would be accessed by an open staircase.
It is hoped the changes will help make Devizes “a prime leisure and retail destination”.
But Mr Fisher emphasised that the plans are not designed to overhaul the market itself, and the town council is eager to retain its current traders.
He added: “The primary function is still the indoor market, one of the things we’re not trying to do is change the market.
“We feel there is a really good mix of units in there, it’s all about enhancing the building rather than changing the market.
“Obviously traders will be concerned because this is their livelihood, but our intention is certainly not to change something that would stop them trading.
“It’s a town investment and the financial burden will fall on the town council rather than the traders because that would just price them out.”
The town council believes that an additional unit increasing the venue’s food and drink offering could help increase footfall for existing traders.
Mr Fisher said: “We’re looking to put a cafe unit at the front end to draw people in, we know people want refreshments and then hopefully once they’re in the building they’ll browse.”
The full plans can be viewed on the Devizes Town Council website and information has also been displayed in The Shambles.
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