A major makeover is on the cards for Corsham's 'concrete jungle' shopping precinct.

The precinct's owner, North Wiltshire District Council has joined developer Castlefield to create a template for the new look shopping facility.

Castlefield is due to unveil the plans today before consulting with local people about the transformation.

Peter Davis, a Corsham town, district and county councillor said he was sure the scheme would be welcomed.

"The precinct has no problems as such," he said. "But it's looking tired, dated and not in keeping with the historic character of Corsham.

"It's a 1960s concrete jungle and it sticks out like a sore thumb."

The scheme could see Somerfield supermarket doubling in size, with extra parking spaces, and internal and external alterations for existing stores.

"We want to provide a better facility for both the traders that operate from the shops and for the members of the public that frequent them," said Coun Davis.

"We hope this modernisation will bring Corsham town centre into a new era."

He said few people in the town were aware as yet that the refurbishment was on the drawing board.

"It has been kept quiet for commercial reasons," he said.

The increased parking space will be created through the demoliton of the toilet block fronting the current park, and using space more efficiently, he said.

District council leader David Packham said the developers' scheme would be considered by the Executive Committee and then developers would lodge a planning application after consulting with the Corsham area committee and the town council.

"The precinct desperately needs modernisation," he said.

"It's a concrete old-style precinct. Corsham needs a better shopping centre than that, so in partnership with developers, we wanted to refurbish and extend it a little bit."

He said the district council invited a number of developers to submit plans showing what they might do with the precinct.

Then the district council decided to work with Castlefield for six months, and they proceeded to draw up plans ready for approval.

"The agreement runs out in January so they came forward with their plans," said Coun Packham.

"Of course they are all subject to planning approval."

He said Somerfield, the largest store, planned to double its size, to make it a flagship store for the south west.

"It will be a big increase it's what Corsham needs. The one we have at the moment is quite small," said Coun Packham.

"This is a long overdue refurbishment,"he added.