At last night’s (Monday 17 October) meeting of the Town Council Planning Committee Councillors heard from Elm Tree Cars owner Mark Lovelace, Richard Cosker of RCC Town Planning consultancy and architect Mark Clifford of PKA Architects as they outlined the proposed redevelopment of the current Elm Tree Cars site at Pelham Court on London Road.
Not an application already submitted for approval, rather an early presentation of the initial ideas and plans so that the Town Council could comment and advise before any formal submission of the resulting application.
This approach was warmly welcomed by Councillors who were keen to ask about some of the detail of what the development would be like, and also to give feedback and opinion for aspects of how the eventual development will appear.
The initial plan is for there to be ‘mixed use’ redevelopment of the site with a new office building comprising four office suites, thirteen three and four bed houses, maisonettes with a first floor suite in the riverside building.
Mark Lovelace started Elm Tree Cars in its current location over thirty years ago. Over this time it has become established as the main used car dealership for the Marlborough area, specialising in ‘Prestige Cars’, and every car sold is identifiable by the small Elm Tree sticker normally sited on the rear quarter of the vehicle.
Why develop the site? “The Pelham court premises is a large Brownfield area much bigger than we need and is always requiring a significant investment. It is ideal for housing with a beautiful River frontage and we are incorporating a number of wildlife and environmentally beneficial features in to our application.” explained Mark.
“I have tried on numerous occasions to secure an alternative local site including the old Skurrays Vauxhall building, but without planning already in place, we are always at a disadvantage.
We have no plans to cease trading, all my staff are on board and the number of Elm Tree cars we see everywhere gives us all a great sense of pride-customers often send photographs of cars with the Elm Tree logo they have seen in far away places” he added, noting a vote of thanks to his clientele: “I am personally extremely grateful, even moved, by those loyal customers and friends who have, and continue, to support us.”
When? No timescale set as yet but news regarding this development and Elm Tree’s future location will be reported on marlborough.news
Update: – The Parade Cinema Marquee – Town Council in Support of application – consult before 19 October
