The owner of Dentons in Chippenham has said there are no plans to close the store, even though planning permission has been submitted to build nine two-bed flats on the site.

Paul Thatcher, who has been at the DIY shop in Park Lane since 1999, said he applied for permission to build the properties, but added that the store will remain open for the foreseeable future.

The plans have already been seen by the planning and environment committee at the town hall, who say that they have no objections subject to two conditions – that the conservation officer is satisfied with the design and detail of the proposed building, and that the Highway Authority is satisfied with the proposed access.

Mr Thatcher said: “We have put in planning permission, but nothing has been decided yet.

“There have been no decisions made yet, and certainly Dentons isn’t closing. “The big word here is ‘if’ – we don’t know if we’ll be given planning permission yet. If we are, it could be that we want to build next year, or the year after that, or even the year after that. “We have absolutely no plans to close the shop at all.” The planning permission has asked for the demolition of three shops – Dentons and two empty units. According to the North Wiltshire Open Space Calcu-lator, if plans for the flats are successful, a contribution of £38,095 towards John Coles Park would be required.

At the planning and amenities committee meeting of the town council, Councillor John Scragg, said the buildings had been designed thoughtfully.

“This is in a conservation area, but officers will most likely be happy with the detail of the building in terms of stonework and design,” he said.

“There could be concerns about the height of the building, which is designed to be three storeys. It could cast something for an additional shadow on the buildings on the other side of Park Lane.”

To take part in the consultation or for more information, log on to www.wiltshire.gov. uk/index.htm and use application number 12/01698/FUL and 12/01851/FUL.