At an extraordinary meeting of the Full Council on Thursday 20th October 2022, Councillors discussed its plans for the refurbishment of Manor House which the Council purchased in July 2020. The Council’s Project Manager MEA Consultants and architects Kendall Kingscott were in attendance to present the initial designs.

The aim is to re-develop Manor House to provide much needed dedicated community space and an exhibition room as well as new Town Council offices, with capacity for growth as and when services devolve from Wiltshire Council.

The estimated construction cost including fees and contingency would be £1.8 million and an expected build time of 12 to 15 months. To finance the project, the Town Council would use £700,000 from allocated reserves as well as seeking borrowing approval from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for £1.1 million. The cost of borrowing £1.1 million would approximately be £79,000 per annum over a 25-year term on fixed interest rates with the Public Works Loans Board, this figure is based on the London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (LIBOR) which changes daily. The above figure is the interest rate obtained on 20th October 2022. Subject to public consultation, the Town Council intends to increase the council tax precept from 2024 – 2025 to meet the borrowing costs.