PLANNERS in Warminster are being urged to support a scheme to demolish a High Street eyesore next to the historic St Lawrence’s Chapel.

They will meet on June 17 to consider plans to demolish 3 High Street and replace it with a shop, five flats and six houses.

The plans have been welcomed by Len Turner, chairman of the Warminster and Villages Community Partnership. He said the Grade 2 listed property has been empty for too many years.

He added: “I am quite happy to see if demolished. It is in a dangerous state and is an eyesore.”

One of the last known occupiers was the menswear retailer Ciro Citterio, which collapsed in 2005.

3 High Street has been derelict for many years after being classed as dangerous and its frontage is propped up by scaffolding.

Inside, the building is in a precarious condition and there are structural supports holding up the internal floors and walls.

The plans to demolish it were submitted by Bath-based architect Duncan Lawrence, on behalf of Nuy Hguyen, of HK&Q Developments in Bournemouth.

Locals have until June 28 to comment on the plans. Wiltshire Council is expected to make a decision by July 31.

The property was built circa 1730 and was listed by Historic England on March 31 1978 as a heritage asset of national importance and of special interest.

Supporting the application, Elaine Milton, of Heritage & Planning, said: “Unfortunately as a result of long-term redundancy and neglect, the front range of 3 High Street is in very poor structural condition and the interior is not intact.

“This diminishes its significance and poses a very real threat to its future existence.”