Wiltshire Council has submitted a planning application for its proposed new central area depot in Melksham, marking another significant milestone in plans to modernise operational services across the county.

The planning application is now live and seeks permission to develop a new strategic depot on the site of the former golf course and Christie Miller Sports Centre at Bowerhill, Melksham.

The proposed depot would bring together a range of council services, including highways, waste, streetscene and household recycling centre (HRC) operations, in a single modern facility designed to support service delivery for decades to come. The project forms part of the council’s wider depot strategy, which aims to improve operational efficiency, reduce the number of depot sites and ensure facilities are fit for purpose for the future.

The planning submission follows a public engagement exercise held during July 2026, when residents and businesses were invited to view proposals and provide feedback. Comments received during the engagement period have helped inform the planning application.

The plans include office and welfare facilities, vehicle and equipment storage areas, workshop facilities, fleet parking and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Sustainability has been considered in developing the design with proposals including air source heat pumps, rooftop solar panels and energy-efficient building measures.

Cllr Helen Belcher, Cabinet Member for Assets, said: “Submitting the planning application is an important step forward for this major investment in Wiltshire’s future infrastructure. I would like to thank everyone who provided feedback during our public engagement programme as this has helped us to inform our plans.

“If planning consent is granted, the new central depot will provide modern, efficient facilities that support essential services for our residents, while helping us reduce operational costs and improve the way we deliver services across the county.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to take a look at the plans as this is another opportunity to provide feedback which will continue to help inform this important project.

The planning application reference number is PL/2026/06427 and people have until 20 November 2026 to provide any representations. More information about the proposals and a link to the planning application can be found at:

https://development.wiltshire.gov.uk/pr3/s/planning-application/a0iQ300000OhGTmIAN/pl202606427?c__r=Arcus_BE_Public_Register

For more information about the project, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/melksham-depot