DESIGNS for a new office campus on the £250m business park planned for Amesbury have been praised for their high quality and bold, modern approach.

Planning councillors have given the green light for the first two areas of the Solstice Park development to become reality, signalling the start to construct what is likely to become the commercial heart of south Wiltshire.

Members of Salisbury district council's northern area committee gave detailed planning consent last week for the first two zones - 80,540 square feet of prime office accommodation off Porton Road and for 370,440 square feet of warehouse and distribution facilities close to the A303.

Planning officer John Hammond told the committee the 160-acre site off the A303 already had outline approval for a mixed employment, distribution and leisure park and the master plan for the whole site had been approved.

He said: "What is before you today is about what goes into each particular area."

He said the office campus, off Porton Road, will comprise buildings containing a mixture of glass, steel and flint, all of contemporary design.

Mr Hammond said: "Officers feel this will be a high quality start to Solstice Park and is an encouraging first submission.

"The office campus is of a bold modern design using modern materials and considerable areas of glazing and aluminium cladding."