Last year Cinch Self Storage unveiled a proposal to redevelop the former Islington Vauxhall Garage, on the A4 Bath Road into Chippenham, by demolishing the current building and creating a purpose-built facility.
Now a planning application for this scheme has been lodged with Wiltshire Council and was validated on Thursday, April 25.
The latest designs propose the demolition of the car dealership, which has been vacant since July 2023, and the construction of a new three-storey self-storage facility with associated works.
This new building would house 5,894sq metres of self-storage units, while there are also plans for 18 car parking spaces, cycle parking facilities, refuse stores, and new landscaping.
During a pre-application consultation last year, residents raised concerns the proposed facility could be an “eyesore” that creates traffic on the A4 and noise for the neighbouring housing estate. These fears have been echoed by early responses to the planning application.
Nicola Williamson said: “The use of the building is not consistent with the surrounding buildings that are residential houses and retail units. “There are suitable buildings on both Methuen Park and Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate that would be a better location for a storage unit. “Large lorries and vans will cause a noise nuisance to the residential area in the form of heavy traffic noise.”
Cinch Self Storage insists the plans are “respectful” of nearby residential properties and added the level of vehicle trips to the site would be “low” due to the nature of the business.
It is estimated the facility would only attract an average of 35 trips per day, with access to the site maintained from Hereford Close. While the proposed building is significantly larger than the current one, it has been reduced in both height and length following concerns raised by locals.
In their design and access statement, the developers added the scheme would make improved use of a vacant brownfield site.
They said: “The planning application proposals seek to make the best use of this currently under-utilised, brownfield site. “The proposals are of high design quality and would not cause harm to amenity. “The proposals are, therefore, sustainable development and are supported by the NPPF and development plan.”
A public consultation on the current proposal will run until Thursday, May 30, ahead of Wiltshire Council making a decision on the application.
