A large warehouse could be built on a field just outside one of the county’s principal towns if Wiltshire Council approves a recent a planning application.
Gompels Healthcare is seeking permission to construct a warehouse with office space and parking on land south of Bath Road in Melksham.
The company has been based in Melksham for over 50 years, describing itself as “bursting at the seams” and “desperately” needing more space.
The application reads: “Gompels Healthcare Ltd is a family run wholesaler primarily supplying Care Homes and Nurseries with everyday consumables, medical and early years products.
“We have been based in Melksham for over 50 years, starting from a small pharmacy on the High Street and growing to occupy over 120,000 sq of space on the Bowerhill Industrial Estate, turning over £150 million and employing over 130 people in the local area.
“We are bursting at the seams.
“Covid accelerated our growth and our team is doing fantastic work building our customer base so we desperately need more space so we don’t let our customers down.”
The field upon which Gompels is hoping to build is located to the south of the A365 and to the west of Turnpike Garage and Carnation Lane.
According to the plans, it would provide the space the company needs for “storage and more efficient distribution, as well as the capacity to accommodate the long term growth of the business”.
If approved, the new warehouse would free up the existing Gompels site on Swift Way.
The application states: “This site to the South of the A365 has been chosen following an extensive search over the last 5 years.
“The site is immediately available and deliverable within a short timescale.
“A number of other sites have been considered, locally and further afield, with this site being the only viable, deliverable option for the business when assessed against set criteria.”
Gompels describes itself as “a clean and quiet business” and concludes: “We do not pollute, attract pests or cause noise pollution.
“Quiet electric forklis are used and nearly all deliveries are during the daytime.
“Noise produced at the proposed site will be less than at the existing site as everything will be located in one building, removing the need for stock to be transported outside between buildings.”
Wiltshire Council is expected to make a decision by the end of March.