There is good news on the long-awaited renovation of the redundant – and listed – buildings at the Bridge Garage site on Marlborough’s London Road.
After planning consent had been given five years ago for a housing development to replace the garage, it was found the potential sale price of the new homes could not cover the build costs. Now the garage itself has been updated, planning permission has been granted to renovate the four buildings to the north of the garage.
A consultant team is working to clear the conditions that Wiltshire Council has placed on the planning consent. They expect work to begin on the complex renovations of these historic buildings in Spring next year.
One of the conditions concerns the protection of the River Kennet from any potential contamination ‘associated with the former garage uses’ and from the renovation work.
The buildings are – from right to left in the above photo – the former Antiques Emporium (which had earlier been a garage and a car showroom), the cottage next to it, and then the two buildings which were the garage offices and also the Dick Lovett headquarters. All except the cottage have planning consent for multi-commercial use.
The Emporium will be prepared for commercial use – possibly as a restaurant. This building is wedge shaped and ‘not huge’ – there might be space for a restaurant of between 30 to 40 covers on the two floors.
The cottage has always been a residential building and will be renovated and extended at the rear for continued use as a residential unit.
The other two buildings will be renovated as shops below and offices above. These four buildings currently employ two people, and the planning application reckons the completed project will employ at least ten people.
Wiltshire Council’s Conservation Officer has previously noted that “…the building has been in a neglected state of repair for several years and that the opportunity to bring the ornate building back into life is welcomed to ensure the long-term viability of the site and the future of the building.”
The major objection to the planning application came from Mr Richard Holmes whose home is ‘immediately adjacent to the development’ – No. 112 London Road. His objection solely concerned the use of the ‘Emporium’ building as a restaurant – citing disturbance from probable parking in Waggon Yard, people smoking outside the building, kitchen smells and noise.
The planning officer’s report stated “…there is no reasonable likelihood of any customer use of Waggon Yard materially impacting on the amenities of No 112 to an extant that could be substantiated so as to support refusal of the application.”
The site is still owned by the Dean family and the renovation is being carried out by Marlborough River Development Ltd. Daniel Dean has a leading role in the planning for the scheme.
The current state of the buildings has often been criticised as providing a very unwelcoming sight to those approaching Marlborough from the east – along the London Road.
The two relevant planning applications are 18/02224/LBC and 18/02220/FUL The latter can be found here.