Brewery buildings conversion given go-ahead

Developers have given an idea of what they hope the redeveloped brewery site will look like

Permission has been granted for the redevelopment of Grade II* listed Victorian brewery buildings into homes.

Dating back to 1875, the Wadworth and Co brewery site in Devizes has been empty since the firm moved to new premises, away from the town centre, in 2023.

Most of the Victorian site's industrial buildings were demolished last month to make way for 102 new homes, with only the listed Wadworth building, White Lion pub and adjacent buildings remaining.

Wiltshire Council has now given consent to change these into 23 new apartments, a house and commercial space, which developers hoped, alongside existing plans for the site, would create a new "cultural quarter" for the town.

The Wadworth brewery site dominates the centre of Devizes

The developers, Nash Partnership, said that the cultural area would be formed with developer Backhouse's development on the northern portion of the site, and the revamp of the historic Assize Court as the new home for Wiltshire Museum to the west, and would have the "regenerated heritage buildings at its heart".

Simon Williams, town clerk for Devizes, said: "The town council has been supportive of the application throughout and is delighted to see this historic site being developed.

He added that the council was "pleased to see the town centre having investment made which connects with other developments in a supportive way".

The plans include re-using specific artefacts from the site such as copper vessels, engines and brewery equipment, as part of the designs.