Bruges Tozer were comissioned by Chartwell Land PLC to undertake an urban study and outline proposals for the rejuvination of Devizes Market Place and the town centre.The proposals evolved from consultations with interested parties and the Local Authority. By linking and developing underused backland sites the proposals aim to develop new street patterns and, where appropriate, new infill buildings of mixed uses to compliment the scale and pattern of the existing townscape.

Snuff Court Housing
Developing the urban strategy Bruges Tozer put forward proposals on a complex backland site to the north of Market Place. The site was an amalgam of industrial buildings varying in age from recent tobacco and snuff production to silk spinning at the turn of the industrial revolution. This group contained a 4 storey grade II* building of great historic significance locally.
Sadly neglected and on the final stages of dereliction , the site appeared to be destined for total redevelopment. Bruges Tozer recognising potential uses for the existing buildings set about a dialogue with English Heritage .This produced a building by building debate on retention or clearance, stability and subdivision . Car parking demands required clearance of 2 buildings with street frontage but their best elevational features have been retained.

Focus Housing Association and Kennet District Council became interested in the site for social housing.The scheme built includes new build infills stitching together carefully repaired and converted listed buildings around two courtyards to produce an enjoyably landscaped addition to the centre of Devizes.Procurement was under a Design & Build contract.

Longs Building Conservation
As part of the social housing development , ‘Longs building’, the grade 2* listed local landmark was repaired and converted into 9 flats. 4 of these units are designed for
elderly persons and disabled occupation. The building, originally built in 1785 as John Anstie’s textile factory, is a monument of outstanding national importance reflecting the transition from domestic to centralised and mechanised production in the textile industry. When Bruges Tozer were commissioned to undertake a survey of the building it had fallen into dereliction and was found to be structurally unstable requiring emergency measures to stabilise the building before an alternative use was found. Conservation work entailed all aspects of repair from the careful retention of the original Crown sash window glazing to the rebuilding of a 3 storey extension behind a retained facade. Roof trusses and floor beams were repaired in situ with flitch plates and the external walls were stabilised with a new stair and lift core. Grant aided stone and brickwork repairs were carried out after cleaning of the elevations.