GAZETTE: The renaissance of Orwell House and the regeneration of Chippenham's New Road came one step closer this week with the submission of a planning application to revamp the historic building.

The Grade II listed Victorian building, next to the Western Arches, is hardly visible beneath the decaying asbestos roofing and the long shop front but beneath the tatty outer layer, the building is an architectural gem.

Unfortunately it is also in a dire state and new owners HPH have called in contractors to undertake emergency repairs to shore up the building.

Years of neglect and a massive infestation of dry rot have left rafters sagging. And the joints in the roof have decayed so badly it is barely attached to the building.

However, despite its perilous state and belying the dowdy external appearance, Orwell House, once the residence of Rowland Brotherhood, Brunel's principal contractor for the Great Western Railway, still retains some fascinating period features.

Buried away is the magnificent dining room where anecdotal evidence suggests Brunel may have dined with Mr Brotherhood, and the marvellous and extravagant plaster mouldings look fresh and new.

An interior courtyard boasts a graceful arched door and elegant windows and the landing is adorned with carved wooden cherubs at the four corners of a decorated dome.

HPH's development director Chris Wordsworth believes the character of the building will contribute to its success in its new role as a bar restaurant, and a retail space.

"This is what the town wants," he said.

HPH Commercial Property, which has already spent £1.25 million developing Bewley House in Ivy Lane, bought 54 and 55 New Road for an undisclosed sum and intends to invest more than £500,000 on revamping the building.

Already HPH has interest from clients looking for a Chippenham site for a large retail operation, and a bar restaurant facility.

But work is in its earliest stages and the planning application has yet to be approved by North Wiltshire District Council.

A tour of the building reveals the extent of the dry rot and the dilapidation of the interior and exterior.

A giant rainwater tank fitted in the building in the 19th century has leaked water into the walls over the years, leading to the dry rot infestation.

As well as tackling the dry rot a part of a wall will have to be removed to take out the tank.

The entire asbestos roof will be replaced and a new faade will be needed for the frontage.

The building's previous owners, the Dreams bed shop, had done little work over the last five years.

"At the moment the shop has to have ten buckets to collect the water if it rains," said Mr Wordsworth.

Dreams will be moving out in January and, if the planning application gets the green light, HPH hopes to start main restoration work early next year.

If all goes to plan, the building should be ready for its new life by autumn 2005.

Lindsay Holdoway, HPH managing director, said: "The building was in need of urgent stabilisation and this work is now progressing well.

"The property dates back to the 1800s and the repairs we are working on are long overdue. Although in such a poor condition it is a pleasure to begin restoring the property with its attractive Victorian features.

"This is a preliminary stage of construction with the main works commencing in the New Year and we hope to have the building ready for occupation for next summer."

HPH hopes the completed site will attract interest from a great many prospective tenants because of its central position and proximity to the railway station and M4.

The Bath-based commercial property company is also currently involved in ambitious plans to transform the area on the Marshfield Road side of the arches.

Plans are underway to fill-in the outdated subway, to repair brick and pipework on the arches and landscape the area beneath them.

HPH has donated £20,000 to the project to pay for street furniture and possibly a statue of Brunel.