New building's olde worlde look

11:27am Thursday 27th September 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

The large gap in the frontage of Northgate Street, Devizes, screened off for years by a corrugated iron fence, now boasts a beautiful timber-framed building.

And in the future people will be able to appreciate the picturesque two-storey building inside and out as it is hoped to let it as a restaurant.

Developer Rod Cole of Reading was successful in an auction and bought the land between West Electrical and Devizes Newsagents from Kennet District Council. Builders Gaiger Brothers undertook the work.

Next Thursday October 4 the building will be open for viewing from 11am to 3pm.

Mr Cole said: "We are very pleased with the work Gaiger Brothers has carried out.

"We are delighted with the building and feel it considerably improves the street scene in Northgate Street."

The gap in the frontage dates back to the 1960s when Harold Hewitt, the owner of Devizes Motor Company, demolished the existing building to create a new spares centre.

But, because of new legislation that put a premium on new retail development, Mr Hewitt left the area undeveloped and for many years it was fenced off.

Then, in 1997, Mr Hewitt closed Devizes Motor Company and sold the whole site to the council. The rest will shortly be developed for affordable housing by Sarsen Housing Association.

The restaurant is expected to cater for between 60 and 80 covers. Architects' layouts show a ground floor bar and seating area and first floor seating area with kitchen in all extending to 2,419 square feet.

There is also a courtyard seating area and another two-storey building suitable for office or storage of 576 square feet.

The building is being marketed by Dreweatt Neate.

Jenny Rowe, from the company's Trowbridge office, said: "This represents a wonderful opportunity either for someone wanting to open their first restaurant, or a second outlet for an existing business.

"Although consent is also for retail or office use, we are primarily marketing the property as a restaurant and expect many enquiries.

"It is a prime spot in the centre of the town. There is plenty of parking close by."

The rent of the property will be £35,000 a year, subject to review at three-yearly intervals.