The Pavilions under threat from a cynical Investment Company.

The article below appeared in the Bath Chronicle last week. 

Transforming Trowbridge has urged Wiltshire Council to confirm the Article 4 Direction.  Mr Gutwirth's comments, about the level of compensation which may be payable should the Direction not be confirmed, are considered to be totally inaccurate. 

The Pavilions remain the best opportunity to attract new employers to Trowbridge. The County Town needs jobs not homes.  There are many examples of local authorities making Article 4 Directions to protect their most important employment opportunities and we are pleased that Wiltshire Council appear to be doing the same.

The White Horse Business Park is Trowbridge' s most important job-creating investment opportunity and it must be protected.  The new owners have made no effort to secure tenants for this important building preferring instead to exploit a loophole in the General Development Order to change the use of the building to residential in order to turn a quick profit with no thought for Trowbridge's best interests.

Very sad!

Come on Wiltshire Council confirm the Direction and we will work with you to identify some business investors and create some jobs.

Wiltshire Council facing compensation pay out over vacant office space plans

By James Crawley  |  Posted: May 11, 2016

Residents in Trowbridge have until Thursday (May 19) to have their say on plans to turn a vacant office block into 98 apartments.

Wiltshire Council has blocked the proposals put forward by Ashbourne Investments Limited, which included a tennis court and gym at The Pavilions on the White Horse Business Park, but may now have to pay compensation to the building owners.

The Government allows changes of use from office to residential without the requirement of formal approval where the space is not being used for its intended purpose.

Wiltshire Council is now facing the prospect of forking out millions of pounds in compensation, according to the building's owners, having passed an Article 4 Direction. This removes the developer's rights to carry out their proposals.

The plans to transform the vacant buildings was submitted to the local authority in March.

However they were branded a "disaster" by a group known as Transforming Trowbridge.

Ashbourne Investments Ltd managing director, Mike Gutwirth, said: "We haven't come across a single council in the UK that has taken this drastic measures, mainly due to the significant compensations which they may be liable for.

Mr Gutwirth added: "Unless the council reconsiders their position, not only have they missed out on turning a large vacant property (which has been empty for years) into something productive, they would potentially be liable for millions of pounds in compensation. Needless to say this will be a huge strain on the already tight public coffers."

As a result of the Article 4, the applicant must apply for full planning permission.

Speaking to the Wiltshire Times, chairman of North Bradley parish council councillor Roger Evans said: "We don't always agree with Wiltshire Council but it is very nice to have that feeling of a big brother helping us out. We have got to work together on this and the more the council do to help the community the better."