A Wiltshire nursery and garden centre is hoping to expand into Trowbridge by taking on one of the town’s historic Georgian shops.

Matthew Webb, the owner of The Nursery in Marsh Road, Hilperton, is planning an investment in the old H B Pitts Ltd premises.

He's hoping to breathe new life into the shop at 7 Silver Street, Trowbridge, which closed in 2016.

He has submitted an application to Wiltshire Council for a £10,000 grant from the Future High Street Fund to turn the shop into a home and garden store.

The owner of the premises has plans to convert the space above the shop, part of which dates back to the medieval period, into residential flats.

Mr Webb, 49, who used to work at the Shaw Trust’s Palmer Gardens Garden Centre, said: “I am hoping to reconnect with the town centre and this will be a good opportunity to do that.

“We have submitted an application for a £10,000 grant towards the £15,000 cost of fitting out the shop.

“We hope to hear whether we have got the grant when the Trowbridge Area Board sits on January 17. If successful, it will help to create three part-time jobs.”

Wiltshire Council has allocated part of the £16.3 million it received from the Future High Street Fund to breathe new life into the town centre.

It hopes to encourage people to occupy Trowbridge’s vacant residential and commercial properties and create a more vibrant town centre.

Cllr Stewart Palmen, the leader of Trowbridge Town Council, says the town centre is likely to experience significant changes.

“People with good ideas are coming forward; we are seeing a lot more planning applications being put in and actually being implemented.

“Stone Developments Wiltshire Ltd are converting the Ship Inn into eight flats, and Parade House has already been redeveloped and refurbished.

“It is definitely heading in the right direction, although moving forward I would love to see more food and drinks people.

“In the past, people were applying for planning permission and then trying to sell. Now we are seeing a lot more people actually trying to follow through.”

The owners of Innox Mills have just submitted revised plans for the old Bowyers factory site after taking highways concerns into account.

The Grade II-listed Clarks Mill and Mill House in Stallard Street are being converted into 22 luxury apartments and houses being marketed by Savills in Bath.

Wiltshire Times: The Clarks Mill building in Stallard Street, Trowbridge. Photo: Trevor Porter 69541-2The Clarks Mill building in Stallard Street, Trowbridge. Photo: Trevor Porter 69541-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Stonegate Homes, of Dorking in Surrey, has obtained planning permission to convert 26 Fore Street into a ground floor commercial unit and 24 flats.

The firm’s land manager, Steve Naylor, said: “We are currently out to tender with local contractors.

“We would rather use local contractors and put a bit of work back into the local community.”

The new owners of The Shires shopping centre, LCP, are also believed to trying to attract more retailers to take on vacant units there.

Kez Garner, a director of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce CIC, said the town centre is changing in line with changes in shopping habits.

Despite the loss of some stores in Castle Place shopping centre and in Fore Street and smaller independent retailer closures she is predicting a “rosy future” for the town.

“Things are happening in the background with leases and premises changing hands. In 12 months’ time, Fore Street will be very different.

“St Stephen’s Place is currently fully let and the Odeon Cinema is very busy, so it is not all doom and gloom.

“There will be more people living in the town and the town centre will be looking more attractive following the FSHF works.”