DEVELOPERS are close to sealing a deal to buy a retail site in Warminster and replace it with houses.

Car firm Renrod owns the Costcutters shop, Murco petrol station and Toyota car showroom on Victoria Road and is talking with two companies hoping to secure a sale.

Although the landowners have not officially put the site on the market, bosses received a number of inquiries after gaining permission to move the car showroom to Westbury earlier this year.

One of the companies involved in the talks is an undisclosed housing developer and Renrod is planning to reach a deal within the next month.

But staff at the convenience shop have already been told they will be out of a job by September.

Bob Chapman, of King Sturge Surveyors acting for Renrod, said: "The site has not been sold and the owners are in the middle of looking at options following approaches which have been made.

"We will be looking to continue in the same way in the foreseeable future.

"But the site will be closed by September because the owners have already decided to move to a site in Westbury.

"We have had approaches from various parties for the site but no decisions have been taken.

"It is too early to comment on exact job losses of redeployment and I am not aware of any staff being told they will be out of work.

"But we can say with all certainty that every option is being looked at and although the future of the shop is not clear the car dealership and staff will be asked to move to the White Horse Business Park."

West Wiltshire District Council confirmed they have yet to receive a planning application or change of use application at the Victoria Road site.

Mr Chapman said: "We have had approaches from a house building firm and also a company looking for a retail site.

"Renrod are expected to complete a deal with one of the companies who have made an approach within the next month or two."

Seven workers at the Costcutters shop have been told they will have to find new employers in six months time.

The shop and Murco petrol station are currently not included in the plans to move the showrom to White Horse Business Park.

One member of staff said: "Obviously we don't want to move or lose our jobs but we are waiting to see what the outcome is."

Town and district councillor Chris March said: "The town council has been aware of speculation on the future of the site for some time.

"It is fairly obvious that someone would be looking at that site because it appears to be prime land for housing.

"I fill up there every day with petrol and the shop is used by lots of elderly people so it would be missed.

"The effect any change of use for the site has on the surrounding communities is something we will obviously be looking at when an application comes up at a town council meeting in the future. "