THE New Look building on Salisbury’s High Street could be turned into flats and houses under new proposals.
Thomas Homes has submitted plans to Wiltshire Council that would see the existing buildings at 22/30 High Street demolished to make way for 48 flats and five houses.
The plans also detail a smaller retail unit to occupy the High Street frontage.
The building is currently occupied by New Look, but the applicant said the potential loss of retail space is not regarded as significant as parts of the building are already vacant.
The applicant said a review of the site found that it is over-sized for the majority of potential tenants and could not be readily divided into smaller units due to its narrow frontage compared to its depth.
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“In respect of the city’s ability to attract a sustainable quality of retail offer, especially in this prime section of the High Street, it is essential to have adaptable and usable retail space and thereby avoid the risk of a single occupier such as New Look closing and leaving a large, unusable and unaffordable void to the general detriment of the core retail area,” the plans said.
The proposed elevations Picture: Woodfield Brady
No affordable housing has been included in the plans, as Thomas Homes says an appraisal came to the conclusion that it would not be financially viable.
“The total costs of development of the scheme in both of our appraisals, far exceeds the revenue generated by the proposed scheme,” the plans said.
“In the case of the appraisal showing 40% on-site affordable housing provision, the negative figure generated by the scheme is (£5,711,693).
“In the case of the appraisal showing all the residential units as private sale, the negative figure generated by the scheme is (£3,330,425).
An artist’s impression of an aerial shot of the development Picture: Woodfield Brady
“We have sought to be reasonable in compiling the evidence for the inputs into this appraisal and indeed we have sought advice from other professionals regarding the cost of development and the retail values for the proposed new unit and the value of the existing property.
“In conclusion, the scheme as proposed would not be financially viable if on site affordable housing were to be provided.”
The applicant said while affordable homes are not on the agenda, the development includes smaller homes suited to a town centre and both the young and elderly which “be more affordable than larger homes at this location.”
Just nine parking spaces have been proposed for the development, with vehicular and pedestrian access from the High Street at its junction with New Canal.
A new footpath has been proposed for the development from the High Street to the riverside which would run through the site and to the north of a new landscaped courtyard.
The applicant said they have been in conversation with Salisbury City Council as owners of the east riverside area and they intent to carry out further “light touch” landscaping to enhance the area.
Comparing the current view from Fisherton Bridge with the proposed development Picture: Woodfield Brady
Thomas Homes said the new homes would provide more view of the Salisbury Cathedral Spire.
The plans say: “The proposed buildings behind [the] High Street would provide a new and attractive frontage to the river, and are located to allow the retention of trees on the riverside.
“The new buildings are sited so as to open up more of the view of the Cathedral Spire and to provide it with a more attractive context.
They added: “The development would reduce the level but improve the quality of retail development on the site and would provide some 53 new homes which would add to the vitality and vibrancy of this part of the town centre.”
To view and comment on the plans, search reference PL/2025/02908 on the planning section of Wiltshire Council’s website.
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Looks interesting ,very interested
Never heard of of anything so stupid but it is Salisbury since great to live in city. The High Street is no place for homes where would they park their cars for one thing and it would cause major disruption while the building is going on and totally spoil the High Street. And another lots of the older buildings will be damaged by vibration of the piling for the foundations.Typical Salisbury Wiltshire council
I’d like to know who is going to make à lot of money from this development (I don’t suppose we’ll ever know as usual) you’re truly…a resident of Salisbury for the last sixty years