Retail park scheme for former depot site

Reading-based developer Foinavon submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the site at Bumpers Way last Friday.

It said it plans to turn the brownfield site into two or three separate units for bulky goods retailers, such as carpet, furniture, home improvement and electrical stores.

With the potential to provide up to 100 jobs, the development could be good news for Bumpers Farm which not only lost Wincanton in January 2002, but also 83 jobs from lighting manufacturer Eaton MEM, when it transferred production to Hungary last August.

Foinavon is not yet releasing details of potential new retailers, but development director Paul Bench said there has already been interest from well-known chains.

"The level of interest we have received even before we have submitted the planning application reflects both the lack of suitable alternative opportunities in Chippenham for bulky goods operators and the fact that the town is under represented in this area," said Mr Bench.

"In turn, this leads to a significant amount of trade leaking from Chippenham to other towns such as Swindon and Bristol.

"Consequently this application represents an important opportunity to improve the level and quality of retail provision in the town and keep shoppers in the area, benefiting the town and its local economy."

Mr Bench added that much effort had been put into the planning application to make the former lorry depot more attractive.

"The new scheme will see the creation of a more attractive gateway to Chippenham from the western bypass, further improving prospects for investment in the Bumpers Farm employment area.

"The scheme will be extensively landscaped, with the intention of bringing real visual improvements to the site.

"A sensitively designed building using materials to ensure it complements the surrounding area will provide a marked improvement on the site's previous use as a distribution depot."