ARCHITECT Aaron Evans, who helped steer the redevelopment of Calne town centre, has unveiled his vision for the next stage of the town's redesign.

The blueprint features a covered market, cafes, a pub restaurant and a revamped Phelps Parade shopping arcade.

With the recent completion of phase two of Calne's redevelopment, Mr Evans is preparing for tomorrow's official opening by the Queen of Calne's landmark Millennium Library, which he designed.

Mr Evans, who is due to be introduced to the Queen, said he was delighted she was to open the building, but said Prince Charles had also taken a keen interest in the town since the closure of the Harris factory.

"Prince Charles came to Calne in 1986 to have a look at the town when it didn't really know where it was going," said Mr Evans.

"It was at the height of community architecture, which was something he supported."

In 1989, his Bath-based firm Aaron Evans Architects won the national competition to redevelop and breath new life into the town, following the void left by the demolition of the Harris factory in 1983.

Mr Evans said it felt very satisfying that phase two, which includes the library, new shops and flats, had been finally completed after various delays.

"I think people were a bit surprised at the design of the library at first," said Mr Evans.

"A lot of work has gone on in the town in the last ten years, so people had to have some faith in us."

He added: "We had already completed phase one on the Bank House side and we won several awards for that so everyone was delighted.

"After that it was largely a matter of faith and us working together with the local authority and the community."

Mr Evans feels he and his colleagues have healed the scar left by the removal of the five-storey Harris factory, which provided the core of the town.

Town mayor Elizabeth Watkins applauded the architects' work. "Ten years of sensitive regeneration has given Calne a new heart and it is coming to life in a way that is bound to lead to greater economic prosperity," she said.

"It is now a very pleasant place to both work and live, and well placed to attract new business to the town."

This week Mr Evans revealed his plans for the future of Calne, which include revamping the 1970s Phelps Parade shopping arcade, introducing a covered market, and making more of the town's river as a focal point.

"They are very much speculative plans at the moment," he said.

"We were commissioned by North Wiltshire District Council to basically put forward an idea of what might be the next stage.

"They are largely ideas, and when and if they happen depends very much on private money coming forward, because only a small part of the land belongs to the local authority now."

If the plans were to become reality, Calne could see a covered market behind the library, as well as a supermarket selling lower-cost items.

"Provided the market could be moved somewhere else, it would be an ideal spot for a pub or restaurant," said Mr Evans.

"This could bring a bit more life to the riverside. The refurbishment of Phelps Parade would bring life to that end of the town, which is already doing quite well because of its proximity to Sainsbury's."

Mr Evans said the district council should be congratulated for already investing so much time and money in Calne's future.

"All this was a tremendous leap of faith for the local authority," he said. "There are many areas across the country where the bullet hasn't been bitten.

"Wiltshire must be applauded for putting its faith into the town for the future of the people of Calne."

A district council spokesman said Mr Aaron's blueprint would be used as a basis for discussion with potential developers.

jbishop@newswilts.co.uk