A NEW restaurant could be the latest addition to the £3 million makeover of the former Corsham Precinct.

Developers hope most of the work on the Martingate Centre will be completed by October, including an expanded Somerfield supermarket.

Wiltshire College has agreed to open a new IT Centre in October in one of the units. It will be taking the space currently used as the site office, together with a first floor extension over the two new shop units.

Martingate director Bill Hall said restoration work would also start soon on the old Congregational Chapel.

He said: "We are also looking for a restaurant operator for the chapel. For space reasons, it is likely to be a single restaurant rather than two units with a caf, as was originally envisaged."

Work has also started on a new unit next to Three Cooks.

Mr Hall said deliveries would be a problem for a shop, so it is likely to be let to a building society or estate agent.

Other units have been let to Sunshine Travel and the Dorothy House Foundation.

The developers are also planning to extend the shop fronts of the High Street units to create a covered walkway.

Mr Hall said: "We are in discussion with North Wiltshire District Council to upgrade the exterior.

Planning permission to infill the space behind the Factory Shop, opposite the Corsham Print entrance to the chapel, is being sought for another small unit.

Mr Hall said: "This is important for design as well as economic reasons because it completes enclosure of the courtyard. It will also make the area more secure after the previous trouble with graffiti.

"The courtyard will become an important amenity space when the College and restaurant are open and it is hoped to have tables there."

The new Somerfield extension and work to the car park and toilets is nearly complete. North District Council will run the car park and be responsible for the maintenance of the toilets.

The car park will have 92 spaces, including nine spaces designated for parents with children and two for disabled drivers. The trailer selling kebabs in the evening will be permitted to use one of the parent and child spaces.

There will be a new bay for motorcycles, and a taxi pick-up point close to the Somerfield entrance.

The centre's canopies are nearly complete, and work on paving repairs, fascia upgrades and decoration will now start.

The developer is also proposing to introduce regulations to control the design of shop signs which it said will help to improve the image of Corsham and enhance the shopping centre.

Proposals are to be circulated for consultation.

The memorials which once stood outside the chapel have already been relocated, and work on the amenity area including the paths and grass will start in the next two weeks.

Final decisions will then be made on street furniture and planting.

Mr Hall said: "We would like to invite businesses and other town organisations to sponsor the new planted areas.

"Corsham Club has already agreed to maintain the new tulip tree bed by the car park exit.

"We hope the worst is now over and the benefits of the work we are undertaking will begin to come through.

"We are acutely aware of the disturbance and inconvenience caused to all our tenants.

"We would especially like to thank everybody for their continuing forbearance."