We are currently working on five of the Vision's 24 major proposals. Some of these, like the redevelopment of the Maltings and central car park and the Churchfields Industrial Estate will take many years to come to fruition. Others, like the renaissance of the Market Place and the conversion of the Guildhall will be among the first projects to be completed:
The redevelopment of the Maltings and central car park to provide Salisbury with much needed additional retail space is crucial to the viability and vitality of the city centre. The existing Maltings shopping centre, with the exception of the Sainsbury’s supermarket has performed very poorly. Although a prime city centre location it feels cut off from the core of the city and it provides shoppers with a disappointing visit. It is thought that a new development would include a department store, an enlarged supermarket, other new shops, apartments, bars, restaurants and a high quality public space together with parking. For more information click here.
The 18th century Guildhall is one of Salisbury’s most important and popular buildings. It is the venue for a variety of uses and functions, with part of the building being used as Magistrates Courts. It is essential that an alternative and appropriate use is found for the building when the Magistrates relocate to the Wilton Road in 2009. For more information click here.
This is the city’s most important public space outside of the Cathedral Close. It is the centre of the city and for centuries it has acted as a focus of trade and as a meeting place. For two days a week it is a hive of activity as people from near and far come into Salisbury to visit the city’s popular and thriving Charter Market. For the majority of the time however it is little more than a tarmac car park. The quality of the seats, signs and lighting is poor and overall the Market Place is a huge disappointment. For more information click here.
The site has grown over the past 30 or so years to become the district’s most important employment centre. It covers 33 hectares and is home to approximately 165 companies that together employ around 4,500 people and have a combined annual turnover of about £600 million. The site is bounded by the River Nadder on three sides and the railway line on the fourth making access to the estate difficult, particularly for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV). The only HGV accessible route to the estate runs through part of the city centre. Relocating the businesses that generate the HGV traffic to alternative locations near to the city centre and redeveloping the estate for alternative use is a priority. For more information click here.
The lack of a public realm strategy has, over the years, contributed to a general degradation of the city's streets and public spaces. The public realm strategy will set the guidelines for future public realm improvements, particularly within the Salisbury Chequers. The public realm strategy will establish agreed standards for design, materials, workmanship and maintenance. It will help us ensure that any future work is of the right quality and it will halp us to improve the city's image. For more information click here.