Salisbury Council looking for developers to help transform town centre

The local council is seeking developers to transform its town centre into apartments, a hotel, shops and entertainment precinct – see the plans here.

Apartments, a hotel and a cultural, entertainment and retail precinct would transform the centre of Salisbury under plans floated by the local council.

Salisbury Council is looking to sell off a large chunk of council-owned land to developers to help bring its vision to life, a decade after it first laid out plans to revitalise the northern suburbs town centre.

The first site on offer is the former Len Beadell Library site, where a hotel with up to 100 rooms is envisaged as part of a high-level concept masterplan designed by the council and property advisory firms Alinea Group and Leedwell Property.

Development proposals for three other sites – the former civic centre and council chambers on James St and the Wiltshire and Sexton car parks – are also being sought by council.

Together, the four sites cover more than 2ha of council-owned land, primarily along Church St.

Artist's impression of Salisbury town centre development. Picture: Supplied by Leedwell Property

Council’s concept masterplan includes a cultural, entertainment and retail “attractor” on the Sexton car park site, and a mix of apartments, offices and shops up to six levels on the Wiltshire car park and former council chambers site.

Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge said the council’s vision was to create a “progressive, connected and sustainable” city centre, through developments that met the council’s guiding principles.

“The release of the Len Beadell library site for expressions of interest, as well as consideration of three additional key council-owned sites, is a significant milestone in the delivery of our vision for the city’s heart,” she said.

Artist's impression of Salisbury City Centre Renewal development. Picture: Supplied by Salisbury Council

“We look forward to capitalising on the significant potential of these landmark sites to assist with the ongoing revitalisation of our city centre by delivering a diverse range of uses, from housing or serviced apartments, to retail and commercial opportunities.”

Salisbury Council’s former chambers were demolished in 2020 following the move to a new $43.8m community hub in 2019.

The new four-storey building, next to the historic Methodist Church cemetery and plaza, includes a public library, civic and office spaces, traditional and digital gallery spaces, learning and information facilities and a range of event spaces.

Artist's impression of Salisbury town centre development. Picture: Supplied by Leedwell Property

It was designed to become a catalyst for further development in the town centre precinct.

The council is currently undertaking a $10m streetscape upgrade and revitalisation of Church and John streets, including new landscaping and public artworks.

A $28m aquatic and recreation precinct redevelopment is due for completion next year.

Leedwell Property’s Jamie Guerra said a larger number of local and national developers would likely show interest in supporting the transformation of Salisbury’s town centre.

“At the core of the offering is the key site of 2100sq m, being the former Len Beadell Library, with the additional possible sites providing some 2ha of development opportunity,” he said.

“The sites all sit within an Urban Activity Centre zone that encourages a broad range of uses including retail, commercial, residential, hotel and serviced apartments up to six storeys, cultural and co-partnering outcomes.”

Expressions of interest close on February 23.