A BID for a £1.5 million National Lottery grant could transform Salisbury’s city centre by turning an empty shop into a permanent environmental hub, campaigners say.

Salisbury EcoHub, Wiltshire’s only dedicated market stall for environmental groups, has applied for funding from the National Lottery Climate Action Fund in a joint venture with Wiltshire Climate Alliance.

If successful, the grant could support the creation of a permanent one-stop shop in Salisbury, with further hubs potentially opening elsewhere in the county.

Trustee Brig Oubridge revealed the scale of the ambition while addressing members at the EcoHub’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, February 3.

“The dream is to win the lottery,” he said, only half-joking, as he explained that the bid is being supported by Wiltshire Council.

“If we are successful, we could take our pick of the empty shops,” he told mayoress Jo Wells and members in his report on the group’s work over the past year.

A permanent base would allow the EcoHub to bring together a wide range of local green groups under one roof, including Share Salisbury – the Library of Things – and the Salisbury Repair Café.

Plans also include hosting exhibitions, film screenings and public talks, such as the recent presentation on the Passivhaus low-energy building standard delivered by architect Haydn Bennet.

For now, the EcoHub continues to operate from its distinctive stall in Salisbury Market Place every Tuesday until 1pm, when volunteers chat with residents and distribute easy-to-read information on issues ranging from carbon capture to underfloor heating.

The group has also offered free thermal imaging surveys to households, helping residents identify heat loss and cut energy bills.

Founded in 2022, Salisbury EcoHub became a registered charity in July 2023 and now boasts more than 150 members and 20 member organisations, with campaigners hoping the major funding bid will mark the next big step in its growth.