Redevelopment plans approved for former hotel site

The development on Oxford Road in Gablecross will include a garden centre, a shop and coffee shop

Plans to regenerate the site of a former hotel forced to close after a fire have been approved by councillors.

Development company Paloma II (Industrial) LLP has been given planning permission to build on land formerly occupied by the Madison Hotel in Gablecross, Wiltshire.

The development will include a garden centre, a shop and coffee shop.

The hotel was demolished after being severely damaged by a fire in 2016.

The Madison Hotel was demolished after a fire severely damaged the building

The application said the shop would sell ‘bulky goods’ which may include white goods such as fridges, freezers and washing machines, or furniture like sofas, wardrobes and beds, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Coffee chain Costa will operate the coffee shop and drive-through.

In the report recommending approval of the plans, Swindon Borough Council's planning officers said they believed the scheme would not have a significant adverse impact on the area.

It said: "Officers agree with the conclusions that the proposals would result in job creation, likely to be from the local area and private sector investment.

"These wider positive impacts associated with the proposal outweigh any perceived adverse impacts.”