Campaign launched to give Salisbury building a new lease of life
'Rise, Resound, Rebuild' wants to take over Grosvenor House
A project is hoping to get Grosvenor House and Riverside House on Churchfields Road signed off as an Asset of Community Value.
If that goes ahead, the plan would be to transform the site into a restaurant, grocery store, studios, study space, garden and creche.
It would be run by a Community Interest Company, putting any profits from the aspects on site back into the campaign.
Ben Whatsley from 'Rise, Resound, Rebuild' explains why they're so keen to take it on:
"There aren't many buildings that have the location, and have the size, so when you look at it strategically, its positioning is great. In terms of the emotional connection, the importance for inspiring people, I think the building has a rich history to deliver something for the community that you can't match financially."
The building itself has been empty for a few years now, and used to be the home of music projects Bass Connection and latterly, the Sound Emporium.
A petition's currently in with Wiltshire Council to apply for the site to be named an Asset of Community Value.
Pete Rushforth from the project explains why that's important:
"It would give us the opportunity to actually pitch to the Council and say we have a plan that we think could work and it could be self-sustaining and good for the community for these different reasons. If they approve that, we'll have 6 weeks to show the plan in detail and argue our case, and then a further six months to essentially come up with the money."
More than 200 people have backed the petition already, with a decision due to be made next week (Monday 8th February).
The campaign's also got support from Salisbury City Council and the city's MP, John Glen.
Pete Rushforth, from the 'Ride, Resound, Rebuild' group, says the response so far has been positive:
"Pretty much everyone we've chatted to has really liked the idea! It is genuinely a product of our community. There's easily evidence that it's an Asset of Community Value, it's really I think ultimately whether the Council appreciate that the long term value of it is greater than a short term value of a sale to a developer."
You can find out more about the project on the Rise, Resound, Rebuild website.