Developers want to make town centre a 'destination'

Emery Gate Shopping Centre is right in the middle of Chippenham's town centre

The owners of a shopping centre want to transform it to give the town it is in more leisure and nightlife options.

The "popular and much-loved" Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham, Wiltshire, is owned by Acorn Property Group, which bought it a couple of years ago.

Consulting with the public this year, they want to develop a plan they say would be a "game-changer" for Chippenham.

"We're keen to create a destination for the people of Chippenham, rather than it being seen as a commuter town and people having to travel further afield to do things in the day or in the evening, they can do things on their doorstep," said Danica Clements from the company.

Danica Clements and Dane Cummings from the Acorn Property Group are both working on the project

While Acorn will be consulting with the public, they have already been talking to local residents and staff at the centre.

"We've learnt that most people in Chippenham want to see some investments for the town centre and a mix of uses, including in the night time economy - so leisure, entertainment, restaurants, places for people to go in the evenings," said Dane Cummings, Head of Commercial Property from Acorn.

Future plans would not just be about businesses however - the developer also wants to put in low carbon homes.

Acorn said traditional shopping centres are seeing fewer people come through the doors, so they "have to do something different"

It was announced previously that that Tesco at Emery Gate was moving to a different place in the town centre and the changes in retail are something Acorn is aware of.

“We’re continuing to see a decline in footfall at traditional shopping centres and Emery Gate is unfortunately no different.

"We can’t hope that the retail sector turns back the clock 25 years. We have to do something different,” explained Mr Cummings.

The company said it wants to align closely with the local neighbourhood plans and have been talking to Wiltshire Council and Chippenham Town Council too.

Acorn will be consulting with the public this year

The company said plans are not concrete and they want to hear from local residents at consultations.

One is expected in May and another later in the summer.