A mix of new homes, commercial workspaces and independent food and drink outlets are promised under long-awaited plans for a major town centre redevelopment site.
The Innox Mills scheme will bring a vibrant new quarter to Trowbridge town centre, according to developers of the 10-acre brownfield site.
Once home to cloth mills and a Bowyer’s pork pie factory, the site next to Trowbridge railway station will include a mix of up to 300 high-quality houses and apartments, space for artisan businesses and co-working hubs, and a focus on independent food and drink businesses, including a roof-top bar.
The site, which has laid derelict for 12 years, will also feature new children’s outdoor play areas, new links through the site to the town centre, plus green, open leisure spaces and improvements to its riverside. The site will also host regular events throughout the year.
The development company, also called Innox Mills, said its plans – which have been submitted to Wiltshire Council – would breathe new life into the historic buildings on the site, identified in the Local Plan for Trowbridge as a regeneration priority.
Innox Mills acquired the site in 2016 and has been consulting with stakeholders and the general public over the past five years, exploring a wide range of land uses and opportunities, carrying out site investigation works and responding to the changing retail and economic situations.
Innox Mills director Jonathan Dean said: “We want this to be a buzzing, sustainable quarter that contributes to the council’s climate and ecology objectives while supporting Trowbridge town centre and encouraging more people to spend time here – plus providing new jobs and opportunities for residents old and new.”
“We’ve spent the last five years listening to lots of ideas and suggestions and working up the plans.
“Whilst some of them were unfortunately not workable, I’m delighted to say that many of the ideas are included in either the submitted application or are in the longer-term plans for Innox Mills.
“For example, the co-working space, potential roof-top bar and space for small independent businesses are just some of the options we feel are viable but also sustainable for the site and town.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has been involved. We’re excited to have finally reached this stage and, subject to how planning goes, we could potentially be on site in 2023.”
Positive feedback from local businesses and residents has focused on the opportunities it will bring to Trowbridge as well as the much-needed new housing.
Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce chairman Kez Gardner said: “The Chamber of Commerce is delighted that Innox Mills is to be developed as beautiful commercial, leisure and residential space, with attention paid to good design, bat conservation, biodiversity and green environmental buildings.
“We are particularly glad to encourage the re-use of empty brownfield land here, which will help to revitalise and restore the county town of Wiltshire to its former glory.”
Trowbridge web design company Websoda owner Simon Brason, who lives in the town, added: “I am really excited to hear about the new development at the Innox Quarter.
“Just what Trowbridge needs to bring in some of the new and exciting businesses. I have heard some fantastic ideas that I would be delighted to see. A real great addition to bringing Trowbridge into the modern era.”
Owner of Trowbridge bath-time gifts and treats retailer Zen Luxuries, Allan Lawrence, who also lives locally, said one of the benefits he had noticed was the hidden potential between the train station and the site.
“I remember the alleyway there that I hear will be reopening,” he said. “This is riddled with potential to change the landscape of our town.
“I’m also excited to see how the co-working space will come to fruition and a mixture of apartments will 100% benefit someone like myself getting on the property ladder.”
