Amid an burst of applause, what amounted to a champagne reception was given last night (Monday) to a multi-million pound plan to sweep away Marlborough’s riverside Bridge Garage and redevelop the site as a new gateway housing enclave for the town.
Members of Marlborough’s planning committee greeted with shouts of congratulation the imaginative project of brothers Alex and Daniel Dean to enhance the London Road entrance to the town with their scheme.
A full planning application is due to be made next month to Wiltshire Council for a scheme that will regenerate the three Grade II listed buildings on the site, remove the notoriously dilapidated Antiques Emporium building and provide 10 new homes.
There will be five two-bedroom houses, three three-bedroom and two four-bedroom, each with double parking space and gardens with additional space for visitors and the chance to enjoy views over the River Kennet.
And the scheme, which is within Marlborough’s conservation zone, will restore the historic Footpath 26, the old carting road for horse-drawn traffic, all part of the 12th revision of the project following a public consultation exercise on the filing station forecourt.
Former mayor Councillor Alexander Kirk-Wilson, after jokingly making an offer for one of the new houses, told the Dean brothers: “It’s an enchanting scheme, a most attractive scheme, and if it comes to fruition without you increasing the housing density I will give you a bottle of champagne by way of thanks.”
“There’s always the suspicion with these projects that they may not be financially viable. The number of houses may go up later. So if it comes back to us with this same density I will give you a nice bottle of champagne.”
Daniel Dean responded adamantly: “We actually started off with plans for 13 units, but we have settled on 10. We are not going to ask for more. It’s 10 we’re going to stick to.”
Earlier, Alex Dean declared: “Our aim is to provide a prestige development that will provided much needed residential accommodation and enhance the area.”
“It is a gateway site as you enter Marlborough on the A4 over the River Kennet. So it is the first sight you see on entering the conservation zone.”
“Our primary aim is to restore and renovate the Grade II listed buildings. The site is in a unique situation and we have a great opportunity to bring some wonderful vistas to these new dwellings. We have the most picturesque views the River Kennet has to offer.”
And the brothers, who took over the garage site in September, 2011 – it has been in their family for 30 years – revealed that they grew up and went to school in Marlborough, actually “performing our Christmas plays in this very town hall building.”
They had called in expert professional help in creating the housing project under a new company called Bridge Homes, consulting the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council’s conservation and highways officers, and adopting ideas suggested during the consultation process.
“This is more than a housing development,” declared Alex Dean. “We want to leave a lasting legacy, something that will enrich and enhance the area.”
Councillor Margaret Rose, the former planning committee chairman, told him: “I want to congratulate you on your presentation and on your own work.”
“There has been aggro about the state of this site for years and years. Your development is straight on to the main road, it’s within easy walking distance of the town. So it answers what is needed. Well done.”
Councillor Bryan Castle, who chairs the Amenities and Open Spaces Committee, praised in particular the opportunity that had been taken to provide homes with access to the river, its wildlife and green environment, which was the council’s basic policy.
“Congratulations on everything,” he declared.
Marlborough’s new mayor, Councillor Guy Loosmore said the project would “certainly enhance this site,” but warned that when it came to architectural merit “the devil is in the detail,” adding: “So I hope you will follow that through.”
Other councillors were delighted by the “long-awaited upgrading of this site” and the provision also of much needed two-bedroom accommodation.
However, the Dean brothers pointed out that there was no provision of affordable housing in the project, as a minimum of 14 units was the threshold for its provision.
Councillor Lisa Farrell inquired as to the selling price of the properties, Alex Dean replying: “We have got the valuations done by one of our agents based in Marlborough. I don’t have them with me. I shall come back to you on that.”
At the close of the meeting, the Dean brothers admitted they were “cautiously surprised by the positive reaction” to the project, Daniel adding: “I liked the offer of some champagne.”
It’s booking time for a feast of fun and delight at next month’s Marlborough Summer School
