Expanding Amesbury's Solstice Park could create 2,000 more jobs

The landowners want to increase the size of the business park

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 8th Jul 2022

The owners of Solstice Park in Amesbury want to expand its size, to create more employment spaces next to the A303.

They say the business park could 'naturally extend' by another 63.64 hectares to the east of its current boundaries - that's the equivalent of another 89 football pitches of land.

It's also claimed that expansion could create up to 2,000 new jobs, with property agents in the South West having more than 25 serious enquiries for potential logistics sites.

Wiltshire Council and local stakeholders are being consulted about the possible expansion before it goes ahead though.

If an expansion goes ahead, it would include land to the left of this picture, beyond the Robert Wiseman Dairies and Greggs sites

Cliff Whitley, a director of developers Classmaxi, said:

“A study by leading international property consultancy JLL highlights a major opportunity for Wiltshire to build on the success of Solstice Park. This could be realised by creating new, high quality employment space to meet growing demand for logistics providers and other businesses in the South West.

“We believe the site could create more than 2,000 well paid jobs and provide a significant economic boost for the area.

“We know that recent accelerated changes to people’s shopping and working habits, as well as supply chain issues, have resulted in a significant increase in demand for logistics. We want to work with Wiltshire Council and stakeholders to explore whether this well-located site could be part of a solution that benefits local people.

“This is already the case with Solstice Park, where all current space is fully occupied and the little remaining employment land has now been sold for development.”

Solstice Park first opened in 2003, and is now home to 2,500 full-time jobs.

HAVE YOUR SAY

A public consultation event on the plans to expand the business park is being held at Amesbury Baptist Centre on Butterfield Drive later this month.

We can see the plans and ask questions on Wednesday 20th July between 1.00pm and 7.00pm.

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